Northampton head boys’ basketball coach Coy Stampone admitted that he couldn’t get a good read last year on how far his current team could advance this season.

“It was hard to tell,” recalled Stampone. “We only played 11 regular season games due to COVID, and we were 9-2. Yet, we just weren’t sure.

“Coming into this year, we really had no idea. We had a lot of talent back, and we also had guys who had to make the adjustment from football. We like our senior bunch, and we felt we had some depth.

“You still can get a good feel playing half the game you normally do.”

The Konkrete Kids proved their doubts wrong when they matched the deepest run in school history – set by the 1972 team – by advancing to the state semifinals or the “Elite Eight.” They finished with an overall 21-7 record. Their win total allegedly was the second best behind the 1972 team (26-3).

They fell to District 7’s top seed Fox Chapel, 39-37, to end their run. Getting there, though, was the real fun. Their two wins in the final round nearly matched their 3-10 overall record in state playoffs. It also marked the third time in the last five years the Kids were there.

“We beat the top seed in District 1 in Methacton, and they were a very good team,” noted Stampone. “It was difficult playing in their place.

“We then faced Warwick, which was a good shooting team. I felt pretty confident going up against Fox Chapel. With less than a minute to go, we were up by three. Things didn’t go our way from there. We were right there.

“But we just can’t look back at the last minute or two.”

Stampone noted the whirlwind environment around the state playoff atmosphere.

“Everything seemed to go 100 miles per hour,” he stated. “It was the crunch to get the scouting reports, films, transportation and practices. We had to work around a lot of things, but the kids always kept their focus.”

The Kids will lose seniors Issac Harris, Isaiah Harris, Lucas Lesko, Cooper King, Caden Reph, Jackson Fehnel, Jakob Gula, and Zack Cesanek. Those eight seniors also excelled in the classroom with a 3.9 average for each player.

Issac Harris, who broke the 1,000-point career scoring mark this season, is still uncommitted about his college selection. Lesko is headed to Wilkes to continue his career.

Sophomores Tristen Pinncok and Jackson Vajda will be the lone returnees who saw significant time this season.

The cupboard may look empty, but Stampone is confident.

“It will be a new look,” he said. “We had some guys on JV who can step up, and we also have some of the younger guys who really pushed the seniors this year. We’ve been successful, and it has helped our program,

“In the first two years when I started, it was different. We have been very proud of what we have accomplished over the last eight years.”

Stampone completed his 10th year at the helm and has a 107-85 slate with the Kids. He also will complete his final year of teaching at the school in June.

Rumors have been circulating that Stampone passes the basketball torch to someone else next season. He is scheduled to coach the West squad in the Via All-Star Basketball Classic at Northampton Community College this weekend.

“Coaching is really a part-time job with full-time hours these days,” he said. “You need a big commitment, and we usually are ready to start our offseason weight training program soon. I believe we have done things the right way, and I’ve been happy for the opportunity.

“I’ll see how things go, and make a decision either way.”