By Jeff Moeller

Special to the Press

With a district berth in hand, Northampton’s boys’ basketball team is looking to bring some continuity into the postseason. The Konkrete Kids began the week with an overall 11-8 record and had three games left on their schedule.

Head coach Matt Scholl knows it’s about his team staying on the same path. The Kids will finish the regular season with home games against Nazareth (Jan. 28) Bethlehem Catholic (Jan. 30) and at Freedom (Feb. 3)

“We have been inconsistent for most of the season but, outside of the Easton game, we have brought effort, intensity, and physicality to every game over the last two weeks,” he stressed. “When we bring those three things and execute well, we have the ability to play with anyone in the league. Our first goal was to qualify for district playoffs and that goal has been achieved. We have three tough games left and an opportunity to get into league playoffs. You want to be playing meaningful games at the end of the season and every game we have left will be meaningful.

“I am impressed with how the team has responded to some tough coaching. I know that the players haven’t always liked some of the actions that the coaching staff has taken, like taking their travel suites away and locking time out of the team room. However, I believe it was necessary to show them what we are capable of as a group.”

Scholl recently has been impressed with the recent play of Ethan Raphun and Kobin Sollars, as well as the steady improving play of Leo Regec and Jake Raysley. Noah Walakovits and Brady Simock has paced the team on both sides of the ball.

Walakovits, who has been the Kids’ leading scorer averaging roughly 15 points per game, also believes his team has overcome some early roadblocks.

“I think we are in a pretty good spot as far as record goes,” said Walakovits. “I feel very confident in myself and my teammates in our abilities to compete with any team we match up against.

“We had some inconsistency throughout the season. That could be because of the inexperience of our team, but I think we are on a good track and looking to stay consistent going forward into the last couple games of the season and into playoffs.”