"It's not lack of effort; it's not because we're not trying … we just can't win with any consistency," said Jeff Jacksits Tuesday night after his Northampton girls basketball team lost for the 10th time this season.

The Konkrete Kids - 3-6 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference's Skyline Division and 4-10 overall - lost 57-32 to the EPC's No.2 team in the Steel Division, Easton.

A 17-point run by the Red Rovers in the second quarter spelled doom for NHS as Easton broke away from a 13-13 tie with 6:16 left in the first half for a 30-13 halftime lead.

"Thirty-six turnovers, the flu bug, you name it, we have them all," said Jacksits. "In girls basketball you can't win without a true point guard and we're still learning, but it takes time. We may not make the EPC or District 11 playoffs, but it's not because we're not trying. It's just a fact of life."

Sophomore Aja Blount again led the K-Kids with 16 points and junior Sophia Eckroth was next with seven.

"We lost Sterner (junior Lauren) in the first half to the flu bug and Sanchez (senior Francesca) hasn't played since our win over Freedom (Jan. 6)," said a frustrated Jacksits.

After beating Freedom, the Kids lost to Dieruff 57-53 in overtime after giving up a 40-31 lead in the final eight minutes of regulation. Blount accounted for 22 of the Kids' 53 points.

Then Northampton rebounded with a 49-37 victory over Stroudsburg in a nonleague game as Blount had 24 points and senior Giovanna Martinez had 15.

"We've got to settle down when we have the ball. We tend to rush things because we lack game experience. It's a learning season for most 0f our girls," added Jacksits.

And things aren't going to get any easier during the rest of the season. Northampton entertains Skyline Division leader Central Catholic Friday in a 5:30 game as part of a girls-boys doubleheader on the Bob Nemeth Court in the Pete Schneider Gym.

Then Saturday morning the Kids visit Class 2A power Minersville before closing the season against Nazareth, Parkland , Emmaus, Whitehall, Central Catholic again and Nazareth once more.