Northampton head boys’ basketball coach Coy Stampone expects a fun atmosphere when his team is part of a tripleheader at Easton Area Middle School Saturday.

His team’s opponent may not be as enjoyable and certainly will be a challenge.

The third-seeded Konkrete Kids will meet sixth-seeded Allen in a scheduled 2:30 tip. If the Kids win, they will face the winner of the second-seeded Pocono Mountain West and seventh-seeded Liberty contest.

For the Kids (17-6), it will be a matter of a slower pace against Allen (14-8). The Kids won tight contests over the Canaries in both regular season meetings (56-53, Jan. 21, and 45-40, Feb. 7). Senior guard Nate Ellis has led Allen to a district title in two of the last three years, beating Parkland last season.

Northampton will enter the contest as winners in 13 of their last 15 games.

“They are an athletic team and like to play an up-tempo game,” said Stampone about his opponent. We had a 15-point lead the first time we played them, and then we held one when (Lucas) Lesko hit a big shot for us at the end.

“In the second game, we held them to 16 points in the first half. We have to get them to play a half court game. They went to push the ball and work through turnovers and cause chaos. Their offense is off their defense. Ellis is a tough player.

“We can play an up-tempo game, too, but we need to play our game and play defense.”

Lesko’s play will be a key to the Kids’ success. The junior center has continued to develop his game.

“When he is 100 percent and doesn’t have any back problems, he can be as good as anyone,” said Stampone. “He has done really well against Allen.

“When he is facing the basket, he is difficult to defend because he can shoot, drive, or take a three.”

If the Kids get past the first round, Pocono Mountain West looms as a tall order. Literally, having 6-10 league MVP Christian Fermin, who has averaged more than 22 points per contest.

“He obviously is tough inside,” said Stampone about Fermin. “He has 30 points and 2 rebounds against Nazareth recently. We scrimmaged against them and they are also very athletic with two good guards. We would have to change what we normally do.

“But we have to take care of Allen first.”

Northampton was the second seed in last year’s tournament. They received an opening bye and beat Dieruff (52-42) in the next round before they fell to Parkland (45-39) in the semifinals.

Stampone knows the bull’s-eyes will be on Lesko and senior guard and leading scorer Issac Harris, but he is confident with the role players on his team. The Kids will have an intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday, and a scrimmage with Bangor Friday.

Three teams will advance to states from the 6A bracket.

‘If they shut down either Lucas or Issac, we can rely on contributions from four or five other players,” he stated. “If we can beat Allen, we are guaranteed two more games, and the consolation game is important.

“We want to keep them on the Tuesday-Friday playing schedule. We have played a few Saturday games.

“We just have to go out and play our game, and our kids are ready to go.”