The Northampton boys basketball team scored 12 of the game’s final 15 points to rally past Nazareth 42-36 in a crucial EPC contest Tuesday night in Pete Schneider Gymnasium to run their winning streak to three in row after a slow start to 2025.

Both teams struggled to score against the other’s tight zone defense. Nazareth led 8-5 after the first quarter. Northampton held the halftime advantage 15-11. The Blue Eagles laid claim to a 24-23 lead through three quarters.

Nazareth extended the lead to 30-27 halfway through the final period before Noah Walakovits knocked down a three at the 3:20 mark to bring the K-Kids even.

The Blue Eagles responded with a three of their own on the next possession and Brady Simock answered back to tie the game at 33 with 2:31 remaining.

From there, the Northampton won the game at the free throw line, making 9 of attempts down the stretch. Leo Regec made 4 straight to give the Kids a 37-33 advantage and a lead they would never relinquish.

Regec described the pressure of stepping to the line with the game in the balance, “It’s just a big moment. It takes a lot of courage. I had to step up. This was a very important game, especially for seeding for EPCs. So it was a must-need thing to knock those shots down. I realized the importance of it, but then I just thought that this is a routine part of what a basketball player does.”

Walakovits led the team with 14 points followed by Regec with 12. Simock, Ethan Raphun, and Jake Raysley all scored 5.

“It wasn’t perfect tonight, but we’re playing with physicality, playing with intensity, playing with effort. That’s what we want from them. We’re doing enough things right now to win basketball games. I’m going to take wins at this point in the year, so great effort tonight,” declared head coach Matt Scholl.

The win moved Northampton’s record on the season to 12-8 overall and 9-5 in the EPC.

As the regular season enters its final week, the K-Kids control their own destiny as they try to sew up an EPC berth and improve their district seeding. The Kids had already clinched their district playoff berth with an upset win over Liberty last Friday night.

They host Bethlehem Catholic on Thursday. The Golden Hawks are 8-11 on the season, but tripped up Northampton in their earlier meeting, 49-41.

The regular season comes to a close on Monday with a road trip to Freedom. The Kids Mercy Ruled the Patriots three weeks ago 63-33, but Freedom is 11-8 this year and should put up a better effort in defending their home floor.

EPCs start next Friday if Northampton qualifies.