BANGOR - Bangor head coach Colin Kessler wasn’t very happy with his team’s defensive effort in the first quarter. But that changed over the final 24 minutes of its league semifinal matchup.

The host Slaters played lockdown defense for the final three quarters to beat Northwestern 59-40 and secure a spot in Friday’s Colonial League Championship. They’ll meet Notre Dame of Green Pond in the title game after the Crusaders beat Palmerton in the other semifinal.

Bangor and Northwestern were tied 17-17 after the first quarter, but the Slaters pulled out to a six-point lead by halftime and built a 44-28 lead after three quarters.

“We gave up 17 points in the first quarter,” Kessler said. “The second and third combined was 11. That was the difference in the game.

“I was very pleased with the way we played. We hustled, and we matched their physicality in key parts of the game, and I think that was the difference.”

No. 2 seed Bangor (11-3 overall, 8-2 Coloinal League) held Northwestern to a mere two baskets in the second quarter, and just one in the third.

“I think ultimately they were a step faster than us tonight in every facet of the game,” said Northwestern head coach Jerry Lloyd. “They forced us out of our offensive sets. They did a great job of that. They played pressure defense. They took us out of our comfort zone. Credit to them.”

The Tigers turned the ball over 13 times, 12 of which came in the first three quarters.

Northwestern’s Dylan Witkowski scored a team-high nine points on a trio of three-pointers, all of which came in the first quarter. After making his first three attempts, the Slaters held the sharpshooter scoreless on his next eight shots from long range over the final three quarters.

After making seven of 11 shots in the first quarter, Northwestern (13-5 overall; 8-2 Colonial League) went 6-for-31 from the field the rest of the way.

“We knew coming in, to win this game we were going to have to take care of the ball,” said Lloyd “They pressured us last time we were here, and they did a great job of it again. That’s where we’ve got to get better. Tonight they were the better team again.”

The Tigers had won 10 of their last 11 heading into the Colonial League semifinals. Their last loss was a 52-33 setback to the Slaters on Feb. 11. They bounced back from that loss by handing Notre Dame it’s first league loss of the season in their next game. They’ll look to bounce back again next week in the District 11 Class 4 A playoffs, most likely as a No. 3 or 4 seed.

“Our season is far from over,” said Lloyd. “This one stings, but we learned last time we were here ... we got better. We’ve got a week to get better and get ready for districts.”

BANGOR’S BALANCE SHEET ... While senior CJ Miles went off for 32 points in the Slater’s regular season win over Northwestern, this time Bangor saw a more balanced score sheet with three players in double figures. Senior Gabe Zieba led the way with 19 points, while Miles poured in 17 and sophomore Josh Giaquinto added 14.

BEAST ON THE BOARDS ... Northwestern’s Justin Holmes pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds while scoring six points for the Tigers.

BIG NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP ... The Colonial League will hold a championship doubleheader Friday night at Moravian Academy. Top-seeded Northwestern will take on No. 3 Palmerton for the girls title at 5:30 p.m. before the No. 1 seed Crusaders battle Bangor for the boys championship.

NORTHWESTERN

Fitch 2-0-1-5, Christopher 2-4-4-8, Holmes 1-4-4-6, Henry 2-0-0-5, Witkowski 3-0-0-9, Stitzel 2-0-0-4, Garrido 1-1-1-3. TOTALS: 13-9-10-40.

BANGOR

Hackenberg 0-0-0-0, Miles 6-3-5-17, Zieba 8-3-6-19, Giaquinto 6-0-0-14, Petersen 2-0-0-5, Eldridge 0-0-0-0, Merklinger 1-0-0-, Heald 1-0-0-2, Karner 0-0-0-0, Ramthun 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 24-6-11-59.

Northwestern 17 5 6 12 - 40

Bangor 17 11 16 15 - 59

Three-pointers: NW - Witkowski 3, Fitch 1, Henry 1; B – Miles 2, Giaquinto 2, Peterson 1.