Keep swinging for the fences is a term usually heard in baseball, but Panther Valley head coach Pat Crampsie used it to constantly inspire the Panthers in their District 11 Class 3A semifinal with Palmerton on Wednesday.

Panther Valley (12-11), which was down 16 points multiple times in the third quarter, certainly needed some inspiration. Crampsie’s message was heard loud and clear. The Panthers battled all the way back to defeat the Bombers 66-59, punching their ticket to the district final.

The Panthers finished the third quarter on a 13-4 run and outscored Palmerton 25-12 in the fourth quarter to charge back for the victory.

“The message tonight was to just keep swinging no matter what,” said Crampsie. “Coming into the game, keep swinging. During the game, keep swinging. Backs against the ropes down 16, keep swinging.

“We just stayed positive and kept chipping away, and kept fighting. The last two and a half weeks the kids were laser focused at practice, worked hard, and as tonight proved, this group has a ton of fight in it.”

Early in the game it seemed like Palmerton was going to run away with it. After PV led by one late in the first quarter, the Bombers went on a run spurred by Panthers’ turnovers and transition buckets.

A Palmerton 15-2 run spanned the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second to put the Bombers up 23-12. The run started when a two-hand slam from Kody Kratzer ignited his team’s offense.

Five PV turnovers during that span helped the Bombers’ stretch the lead to 35-23 at halftime. Kratzer led the Bombers with 10 first-half points.

Palmerton went for the kill early in the third, quickly extending its lead to 43-27.

That’s when Panther Valley started its surge. A 7-0 run got PV within nine at the 3:25 mark after back-to-back deuces by Erick Marchorro and Blake White. The run was capped by a White triple.

Palmerton still led by 10 with around 30 seconds left in the third, but a three from Marchorro made it 47-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

“We talked all week that one thing we knew that could hurt us with them is if they got hot from the outside, and that’s what happened,” said Palmerton head coach Ken Termini. “I have to give them credit, because they really cranked it up in the second half. For whatever reason, we couldn’t match their energy in the second half. They were able to execute, and shot the ball extremely well.”

Panther Valley’s Aaron Gutierrez’ served as the straw that stirred the Panthers’ drink in the fourth. He started the quarter with a triple, and hit two more through the fourth.

“It felt good to hit those shots, especially because I air balled a few in the first half,” said Gutierez. “I knew I had to keep shooting and I was able to get hot for us. Coach Crampsie told us to keep swinging, so that’s what I did and that’s what we did, coming back from 16 down. We’re just really looking forward to moving on and seeing what we can do.”

A Justin Hosier bucket put Palmerton back up five before Panther Valley went on an 8-0 run led by White, who scored six of the eight, giving PV a one-point lead with 2:11 remaining. It was a half-court pass from Brandon Stilitino to Collin Eidle on the right block that gave the Panthers the lead which they held on to the rest of the way.

“We’ve been waiting a year for this,” said Crampsie. “We didn’t get to play a District 11 team in the playoffs last season with the sub regional, so we were pumped up for this one. I’m just so thrilled for my guys. They earned this one. They elevated each other and got the job done.”

LEADERS … Gutierrez led the way for PV with 20 points, Marchorro and White both added 15, while Stilitino chipped in with 10. Kratzer scored a game-high 21 points for the Bombers, with Hosier adding 15.

NEXT UP … The Panthers will face off with No. 2 seed Notre Dame Green Pond in the District 11 3A championship at Easton Middle School at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

PANTHER VALLEY

Marchorro 5-2-2-15, Gutierrez 6-5-6-20, Stilitino 3-2-5-10, Krapf 1-0-0-2, Eidle 2-0-2-4, Hoben 0-0-0-0, White 6-2-2-15, Edwards 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 23-11-17-66.

PALMERTON

Connell 0-1-2-1, Kratzer 9-2-4-21, King 2-0-0-5, Mooney 1-0-0-2, Christman 2-0-2-4, Stuck 3-1-1-7, Hosier 6-2-2-15, Buck 2-0-2-4. TOTALS: 25-6-13-59.

Panther Vy. 12 11 17 26 - 66

Palmerton 15 20 12 12 - 59

Three-pointers: Panther Valley - Marchorro 3, Gutierrez 3, Stilitino 2, White 1; Palmerton – Kratzer 1, King 1, Hosier 1.