The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the Colonial League and the run comes at just the right time.

With the league playoffs beginning Friday, Northwestern has won seven straight games and 10 of its last 11 games to win the West Division.

The Tigers will enter the postseason as either the second or third seed in the league tournament, depending on the outcome of Wednesday’s game between Salisbury and Pen Argyl. A Falcons win drops Northwestern to third, while a loss would give Northwestern the number two seed behind Notre Dame – Green Pond.

The Tigers ended the regular season Monday with a 46-40 win over Jim Thorpe. Cannon Fitch led his team with 11 points. The Olympians Pierce Gothard scored a game-high 23.

The game was close throughout. Northwestern went ahead in the third quarter to hold a 33-29 lead and then held on in the final quarter to get the win.

Over the last week, the Tigers beat Palmerton and Lehighton as part of their seven game winning streak. Northwestern downed Palmerton 62-42 and beat Lehighton 56-41.

Against the Blue Bombers, senior Malachi Coleman got hot from three-point land and nailed five three-pointers on his way to 19 points to lead all scorers. Mason Bollinger scored 10 for Northwestern, who put the game away by outscoring Palmerton 18-5 in the second quarter.

Northwestern hit eight three-pointers in the game, as did the Bombers.

Brady Zimmerman and Brady Krimmel led Northwestern against Lehighton. Zimmerman scored 18 and Krimmel had 15 points in the win.

The balanced scoring has been a key to Northwestern’s success this season.

The one loss over the past 11 games was an important one since it came against Salisbury.

Salisbury (15-2) and Northwestern (16-2) are also one and two, respectively in the District 11 Class 4A power rankings. League champs earn priority seeding in districts. With three different leagues having teams qualified in the 4A bracket, winning a Colonial League title would not guarantee a No. 1 seed.

The Tigers open the league tournament Friday in the quarterfinal round. Their opponent is yet to be determined. It’s likely the game will be part of a girls/boys playoff doubleheader.