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Machalik is named All-State

Add it to the list.

Although in Matt Machalik’s case, it actually might be a scroll.

The Bomber senior gained another athletic accolade this week as he was selected to the Pennsylvania All-State Basketball Team as a second team honoree.

Machalik put together a stellar senior campaign for Palmerton, helping them to win 15 games and leading them in scoring tallying 552 points, averaging 22 points per game.

“Matt Machalik is a fantastic player. I believe he’s the best athlete in the area, and one of the best athletes in the history of Palmerton sports,” said Palmerton basketball interim head coach Joe Egan. “I’m confident that Matt will go on to do great things, and I’m really excited to follow his football career at Lehigh.”

Machalik scored in double figures in all but two of his 25 games. In a game against Colonial League opponent Palisades on Jan. 15, he scored a career high 45 points.

However, Machalik’s most clutch moment of the season came in the Colonial League semis against Saucon Valley.

With Palmerton trailing by three, a Machalik jumper cut the deficit to one with 37 seconds left. Then, in the contest’s waning moments, Machalik was able to draw a foul and knock down two free throws to seal a one-point victory for the Bombers and a trip to the finals.

Machalik finished his basketball career for Palmerton as the boys second all-time leading scorer with 1,601 points.

“Matt is absolutely deserving of this all state recognition,” said Egan. “He has proven over the course of the season, and his career, that he’s been able to perform at a high level when the game is on the line.”

Seven other District 11 players were named to the All-State squad.

Parkland’s Nick Coval was a first team selection in 6A, with East Stroudsburg South’s Jaen Chatman being named to the first team in 5A. Second team selections were Pocono Mountain West’s Adrian Brito (5A), Nativity’s Trey Keating (2A) and Notre Dame East Stroudsburg’s Xavier Spears (1A). Selected to the third team was Allentown Central Catholic’s Jahrel Vigo (4A) and Mahanoy’s Tanner Zawada (2A).

Palmerton's Matt Machalik was named second team All-State in Class 3A. RON GOWER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS