When Palmerton needed big plays this season, Matt Machalik was always part of them.

The sophomore guard might not have made every important basket for the Blue Bombers, but he was always involved when the team needed to score.

In just his second season as a varsity starter, Machalik was a unanimous First Team All-Colonial League selection and one of the most dangerous scorers in the league.

His outstanding campaign also made him the 2021-22 Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

“Being Times News Player of the Year is an honor,” he said. “Being a sophomore and doing it is just crazy. I know it says my name, but it’s more of a team accolade. It’s for the team, and for the school and community. There’s five people on the court, and without the other four, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Palmerton had a number of talented players on this year’s team, which went 18-9 overall and made runs in both the league and district tournaments. But the Bombers’ most talented player was without question Machalik, who led the team in scoring (16.74 points per game), free throws made (79), free throws attempted (133), steals (88), blocked shots (13) and charges taken. He was also second on the team in three-pointers (35), assists (72) and rebounds (139).

“His athleticism, balance and explosiveness make him a unique athlete,” said Blue Bomber head coach Ken Termini. “He’s a three-level scorer.”

While he’s happy about the scoring, the statistics Machalik is most proud of are the ones that don’t show up in the box score.

“I’m not worried too much about points,” he said. “That comes naturally to my game. I just like stealing the ball and making plays on the defensive end. It gets me motivated, and I think it gets the team motivated. And the assists. Making assists is pretty fun. That’s something I could develop in my game. That’s something I’m going to really work on.”

The theme is that Machalik isn’t looking to make plays on his own. He wants to play as a team, win as a team and celebrate as a team.

“His leadership level is tremendous,” said Termini. “Because of Matt’s success, he gets a lot of attention. He always deflects the attention back to his teammates.”

Some of Machalik’s favorite moments from this season include a play in which he missed a shot with a few seconds on the clock, but teammate Chase Reph came up with the rebound and hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat Bangor.

Another came in a district playoff game against Salisbury. Machalik and the Bombers got off to a slow start and trailed early. He made a twisting reverse layup to not only earn a couple points and a foul shot, but also give his team momentum. He scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half of that game, and helped his team move on to the district semifinals.

One memory that also stands out for Machalik from the past season came after a season-ending loss to Notre Dame. He and his teammates shared their grief in the locker room, and the moment had great meaning for Machalik. While he wasn’t happy about the loss, he took comfort in how close his team had become.

“All the guys in tears just shows how much we all meant to each other,” he said. “That’s how close of a team we are. That just showed how we bonded.”

A two-sport athlete who also plays quarterback and safety for the Palmerton football team, Machalik has been playing with his teammates since seventh grade, when he came to Palmerton from the Panther Valley area.

He’s developed bonds with all his teammates over the years, especially fellow sophomore Brayden Hosier, who led the Bombers in assists this year with 79, many of them going to his close friend.

“We’re best friends on and off the court,” said Machalik. “We know where we’re both going to be. If I’m driving, I know where he’s going to be and he knows where I’m going to be. It’s like a dynamic duo on the court. It’s hard to stop.

“Being able to do it with one of my best friends, it’s surreal. We just have that connection.”

Over the next two years, Machalik is only going to get better, and his Bomber teams will likely improve along with him. Termini predicts much success for the Palmerton athletic community in the coming years.

Machalik is looking forward to two more seasons competing with his teammates.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “Knowing what we have coming back in both sports, I think we’re going to have a good year in both sports. I’m really looking forward to it, and developing more into the player I’m going to be.

“It’s going to be really fun to develop and have the game slow down as time goes on. I’m looking forward to the younger players coming up, and taking them under my wing and making them better and showing them you have to work, work, work.”