Palmerton was able to make many momentum-swinging plays in its game against Colonial League rival Notre Dame Green Pond on Thursday.

But for every clutch play the Bombers were able to make, the Crusaders had an answer.

Those answers added up to Notre Dame getting out of a raucous road atmosphere with an 85-79 win in double overtime to stay undefeated in league play.

“I’m really happy about how our guys kept making plays and coming up with answers after they would go on a run. We haven’t faced that type of adversity much this year,” said Notre Dame head coach Pat Boyle. “On the road, Palmerton’s fans were really into it and our fans were really into it. There were a couple times where we could have folded, but our guys stepped up and made plays.”

The Crusaders looked early on like they might be able to control the game with their offense, jumping out to a 22-12 lead late in the first quarter. Notre Dame big man Dainn Vassallo scored nine points and pulled down four offensive rebounds in the first. The Crusaders continued to hold a sizeable lead (26-17) midway through the second, but that’s when the Palmerton offense got going.

The Bombers went on a 17-6 run to end the quarter to close within two (34-32) at the intermission. Brayden Hosier (nine) and Matt Machalik (six) combined for 15 points during that span, with Hosier ending the half with a teardrop floater at the buzzer.

“I think there’s a lot of things to be proud of from tonight. Our resiliency and tenacity are a few of those things,” said Palmerton coach Ken Termini. “The way we overcame adversity was also one of them. We just went toe-to-toe against one of the best teams in the Lehigh Valley. It’s another step in the process.”

Notre Dame once again tried to pull away in the third, leading by as many as nine in the frame (50-41). The Crusaders got hot from beyond the arc, going 5-for-6 from three in the quarter, with Cameron Bohn hitting three triples.

Bohn was clutch on the night for Notre Dame, hitting big shots and scoring a game-high six three-pointers.

Palmerton would once again finish the frame strong to within five (53-48) going into the fourth. A Machalik deuce and a Hosier three to end the quarter kept the Bombers within striking distance.

“No. 10 Bohn had a great game for them tonight. He really hit some big shots,” said Termini. “As a team they made some big shots. That’s the way it goes sometimes. Kids step up and make shots in big moments. That’s what makes high school basketball so great, especially in games like this.”

Palmerton made some big shots of its own in the fourth, as the Bombers would rally to get their first tie of the game (55-55). Once again, Machalik and Hosier made plays during that stretch. Hosier started off the quarter with a triple and a deuce to get the run started.

Notre Dame was able to retake the lead, but only by slim margins throughout most of the quarter.

But late in the fourth quarter, Palmerton’s Trace Stahler hit the Bombers biggest shot of the night. Off an offensive board after a missed free throw, the ball was kicked out to Stahler, who quickly aligned his feet from the right wing, and the lefty knocked down a trifecta to tie the game at 65-65.

Palmerton was able to get a stop, and had a chance at the end of regulation, but a deep heave from Hosier banked off the backboard and the left side of the rim.

A Logan Anthony bucket to start the first overtime gave Palmerton its first advantage, as the two squads would swap the lead a few times in the period. Tied at 72-72, the Bombers once again had a look at the end of the frame to win the game, but again weren’t able to convert.

In the second overtime, Palmerton’s magic finally ran out, as a 10-3 run to start the period by Notre Dame gave it an 82-75 lead, which the Crusaders never relinquished.

“End of the fourth and up four, we foul, they make one and get a kick out three. That’s something we need to clean up there, but in the second overtime in that situation we didn’t foul and we were able to get rebounds to end possessions,” said Boyle. “That was the difference, and we were able to get some big stops down the stretch.”

FILLING IT UP

… Hosier led the way with a game-high 30 points for Palmerton, and Machalik had a big night as well with 27. Logan Anthony had nine points and 10 boards. For Notre Dame, Bohn had 24 points, Vassallo added 23 and Colin Boyle helped out with 17.

THE RECORDS

… Notre Dame improves to 13-2 and 11-0 in Colonial League play. Palmerton is now 9-5 and 9-2 in league play.

NOTRE DAME GP

Miles 4-0-0-8, Smith 4-0-0-8, Boyle 6-2-4–17, Bohn 6-6-8-24, Vassallo 9-3-4-23, Lessig 0-0-0-0, Hobbie 0-1-2-1, Darno 2-0-0-4. Totals: 37-13-20-85.

PALMERTON

Serfass 1-0-0-2, Machalik 10-7-9-27, Carrelli 0-0-0-0, Grammes 1-2-2-5, Pengelly 0-0-0-0, Hosier 11-4-6-30, Stahler 2-0-0-6, Anthony 4-1-2-9. Totals: 28-12-19-79

Notre Dame 22 12 19 12 7 13 - 85

Palmerton 15 17 16 17 7 7 - 79

Three Pointers: Notre Dame - Bohn 6, Boyle 4, Vassallo 1; Palmerton - Hosier 4, Stahler 2, Grammes 2.