Either Kylie Gilliard or Taylor Kranzley can throw a blind pass to the other, and there is a good chance the other would receive it. The duo has been playing basketball together for the better part of eight years, and they know each other’s every move.

Call it chemistry, or call it whatever you want.

The senior backcourt and team captains certainly have played a pivotal role in the success of the Northampton girls’ basketball program over the past four years.

“We definitely know where each of us are on the court,” said Gilliard. “We do have great chemistry together. Taylor is an awesome player who runs the point and does a great job. She really has grown into the role.

“There have been five of us who have played together since four or fifth grade. It really has helped.”

Kranzley has a similar view of her teammate.

“Our chemistry is very good,” she said. “We have grown together to the point where we don’t even have to talk on the court. We know where we are. We just work well together.”

Head coach Jeff Jacksits recognized he had a special backcourt pair when they both started as freshmen.

“Kylie is our emotional leader of our team,” said Jacksits. “She can attack defense many different ways with a drive, midrange jump shot or a three-pointer. She also is unselfish and will pass to an open teammate at any time.

“Taylor is a great floor general, and the offense starts with her. She can drive to the basket with either hand and is always looking to pass to her teammates. She sets the tempo for each game and leads by example. Taylor is a very hard-nosed defender and always draws the opposition’s best player.”

Jacksits also appreciates their selflessness.

“They are great kids and easy to coach,” he said. “They will do anything and everything possible toward the success of the team, and never worry about individual accolades.”

Gilliard began playing basketball at the age of four through the guidance of her father Rick, and her older brother, Tyler.

“Once I started playing, I knew basketball would be with me the rest of my life,” said Gilliard. “I was starting to gain confidence in middle school, but it really wasn’t until freshman year that things took off.

“Starting as a freshman, I felt pressure, but I knew it was great. I became more and more confident with each passing game. I knew I had to work on certain parts of my game to become a better player. I worked as hard as I could.”

It was a mirror-like situation for Kranzley.

“I started playing basketball when I was five,” she said. “When I was younger, I was playing AAU at In the Zone, and also softball.

“I was looking forward to playing in high school, and it was a big moment when I knew I would start. Playing as a freshman with Kyle was a big help.”

She also became more assured of herself playing the point.

“I do feel better about running the point,” she said. “I did a lot of work on ballhandling, and that helped me handle the pressure. I know I have to work through some things to get the ball up the court, but I know what I can do.”

Having former teammate and 1,000-point scorer Morgan Sterner as a neighbor also helped Kranzley.

“She showed me a good work ethic, and what I needed to do to succeed,” said Kranzley. “She made me want to be a starter. I owe a lot to her, and it was awesome to see her score 1,000 points.”

Gilliard will attend Penn State next fall and pursue a career in supply chain information systems. She plans to play intramural basketball there.

In addition to basketball, Gilliard plays soccer, and is a member of student council, the National Honor Society, and the business club. The reality of her future has begun to sink in.

“I want to concentrate on school first and then do intramurals,” she said. “It’s sad to think how the regular season is coming to an end, and my high school career will soon end. There have been plenty of good memories.”

Kranzley plans to attend Bloomsburg University to play softball and pursue a degree in criminal justice to become a detective or FBI agent.

Both girls plan to do what they can to avoid an early playoff exit that has plagued the Kids the past two seasons. Pocono Mountain West and Nazareth knocked them out the past two years.

“We know when to put our gameface on,” said Gilliard. “We have a good group of girls, and we know we can go far. We know what it takes to get it done.

“We have the talent to get far,” added Kranzley. “We’re playing well and feeding off each other. We got beat by Nazareth last year, and we don’t want that to happen again.”