Northampton opened up against East Stroudsburg North on Tuesday night inside the halls of Northampton High School.

The Konkrete Kids were in a dog fight for most of the evening but lost all momentum in the fourth period, losing to the Timberwolves 71-44.

Morgan Hefflefinger scored Northampton’s first points of the season on a break away layup to start the game, but ES North would end up securing a 10-8 lead at the end of the first period.

The two teams battled to a 27-23 score at the end of the first half but Northampton would falter near the end of the third period as ES North began to pump up the pressure.

After the third period, the score had jumped to 46-38. ES North would go on an 8-0 run in the early going of the fourth period led by the strong play of Darin Belinger and Arian Azemi. The Timberwolves would outscore the Konkrete Kids 25-6 in the final period, solidifying Northampton’s first loss of the year.

Heffelfinger scored the team high of 16 points for Northampton, while going 6-10 from the free throw line. Aiden Ellwood was second on the team after scoring 12 points for the Kids. Azemi would score the game high 26 points for the Timberwolves while Belinger would score 20. ES North would make 30 field goals, three of which were three-pointers as a unit while going 8-19 at the free throw line. Northampton scored 16 field goals while going 10-22 at the free throw line, adding 2 three-pointers.

It was a disappointing opener for Northampton as they hope to improve on their 10-12 record from last year, but the team is eager to face the challenges that lie ahead of them.

“This group likes to get up and down the court. It’s my fifth year (coaching Northampton) and this is the group that started with me at the middle school level,” said coach Coy Stampone. “We’re comfortable together on and off the court and our division will again be tough but we’re looking forward to it.”

Northampton will be on the road against Emmaus and Lehighton on Friday and Saturday this week, while their next home game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 20, against Allentown Central Catholic at 7 p.m.