NORTHAMPTON — Weatherly boasts some outstanding players, with two 1,000-point scorers and another not far off from four digits.

That, however, probably doesn’t impress Bethlehem Christian too much.

The Panthers can counter any team’s offensive standouts with two — and even three — of their own athletes.

On Friday night in the District 11 Class 1A championship game at Catasauqua High School, those Bethlehem Christian players produced in bunches to pull away from the Wreckers for an 86-56 victory and the coveted title.

“The group of kids we just played are pretty athletic, well-coached, there’s not a lot of flaws in their game, and we got beat,” said Weatherly head coach Luke Medico.

“Against Nativity [who the Wreckers defeated in the semifinals], it was an easier time because (2,000-point scorer) Trey (Keating) is one guy. (Bethlehem Christian) has (at least two, if not three). They’re three guys that can make their own shots. So we couldn’t play a junk defense against them.”

Leading the way for the Panthers is Gabe Transue, who like Keating, passed the 2,000-point mark this season. The senior got off to a somewhat slow start against Weatherly, but once he got going there was no stopping the 6-4 star.

Transue tallied nine points in the second quarter to help Bethlehem extend a five-point lead to 18 by halftime. He finished the contest with a whopping 41 points.

When he wasn’t putting the ball in the hoop, his teammate Myles Harris was getting to the basket and finishing. The 6-1 senior, who has over 1,800 career points, hit for 12 in the first half and ended with 29.

But as impressive as the point totals were, Panther head coach Matt DeJesus was more impressed with the effort at the other end of the floor.

“The guys played great defense,” said DeJesus. “We talked about weathering the storm and they did that. And then the second half of the first quarter (we) got steals and deflections, and it kind of went from there.

“And then it was just settling in on offense, but they played phenomenal defense and that’s what we need to go as far as possible.”

The storm DeJesus referenced came in the game’s first two minutes when Weatherly scored on three of its first four possessions to take an early 6-2 advantage. Ian McKeegan hit off glass and then drained a three-pointer, while Niko Salduaks connected from the baseline.

That lead, unfortunately for the Wreckers, didn’t last as Bethlehem limited Medico’s club to just three more points and forced five turnovers the rest of the quarter to go ahead 14-9.

The offensive struggles for Weatherly carried over into the second frame as it shot just 2-of-14 from the field and 3-of-10 from the free throw line, managing just seven points and falling behind by 18 at the break.

“We obviously have guys that can score, and they expose guys on other teams,” said DeJesus, “but to me, the defense is what we needed. Weatherly’s a good team, but we played really well on the defensive side.”

The Panthers switched to a zone in the second half to protect some of their players in foul trouble — namely Transue, who had three.

The Wreckers had more success but couldn’t chip into the deficit because any time they’d create some momentum, BC would counter with a clutch drive, three-pointer or putback.

“It’s the experience,” said DeJesus of not panicking when a team starts making a run. “These guys have been here. They’ve played in a lot of big games this year and last year ... and now they just know. The poise they have knowing someone will hit a shot, we’ll get a stop, and we’ll just keep coming.”

Transue’s 10 third-quarter points balanced the 10 by Weatherly’s Corbin Wagner and the Panthers actually increased the margin to 57-38 entering the final frame — which was too big a deficit to mount a comeback.

“On one hand, I’m very pleased and happy we got here because it’s a rarity,” said Medico. “We’re a public school of 150 kids. We’re not a place that gets to pick and choose who comes here. This doesn’t happen at Weatherly that much.

“This was probably the most people I’ve seen come out for a playoff game for Weatherly in a long time. The community’s behind us. Little kids are into it. That part of the ride is amazing and awesome, but the result today was unfortunate.”

SCORING ... Weatherly was led by McKeegan’s 18 points, 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter. Wagner ended with 16 while Saldukas added 12.

PHYSICAL ... The officials let the two teams play. Despite plenty of contact early, there were no fouls called until 1:58 left in the opening quarter.

FOUL CHANGED ... Medico thought Transue picked up his fourth foul early in the second half. The official originally gave his number, but then changed the foul to a different player.

UP NEXT ... The Wreckers will be in the state playoffs as the No. 2 seed from District 11. They will face the third seed from District 1 on Friday.

WEATHERLY

Adler 2-0-0-4, D. Kokinda 1-2-4-4, I. McKeegan 6-5-6-18, Cuddeford 0-0-0-0, J. McKeegan 0-0-0-0, Hinkle 0-0-0-0, Saldukas 5-2-4-12, Davis 1-0-0-2, Wagner 7-0-4-16. TOTALS: 22-9-18-56.

BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN

Kasper 5-0-0-12, Harris 13-1-3-29, Transue 16-7-12-41, Jeffers 0-0-0-0, Rex 0-0-0-0, Brown 0-0-0-0, Primrose 0-0-0-0, Swift 2-0-0-4. TOTALS: 36-8-15-86.

Weatherly 9 7 22 18 - 56

B. Christian 14 20 23 29 - 86

Three-pointers: Weatherly - Wagner 2, I. McKeegan 1; Bethlehem Christian - Kasper 2, Harris 2, Transue 2.

Records: Weatherly (16-8); Bethlehem Christian (22-2).