Freedom’s girls’ basketball team came out strong in the first quarter, and Nazareth came out strong in the second, but it was the Patriots who prevailed in the end, 55-44, over the Blue Eagles last Friday at Freedom.

“We needed this win because of the league standing, so this is a good one for us,” said Patriot forward Jennifer Kokolus.

Freedom, Easton, Bethlehem Catholic, and Allen are fighting for the top spots in the Steel Division of the East Penn Conference.

“It’s been fun, and it’s exciting. We’re all fighting, and we need to win Easton and Allen,” Kokolus said.

On Friday night, Corrin Gill, Kyra Jefferson, Hailey Silfies, Brenna Ortwein, and Kokolus combined for 19 points in the first quarter in the midst of Madison Amy’s three pointers for Nazareth.

The Blue Eagles scored five straight points early in the second quarter, but patience by the Patriots resulted in a three by Ortwein, and Freedom led 28-19 at halftime.

“Coach always tells us to wait for the best shot,” said Kokolus. “It doesn’t really matter how many times we pass the ball around. We have to be patient and work for the best shot.”

In the third quarter, Silfies, who had 20 points, threw an amazing pass from around half court to Kokolus who was underneath to score, and Ortwein hit her second three of the night.

“The connection is getting a lot closer,” Kokolus said. “We trust each other and we know where each other are on the court.”

Amy had three more threes for the Blue Eagles in the second half.

“We worked on our own game. We didn’t worry about what Nazareth was going to do. We were focused on how we were going to play,” said Kokolus.

Freedom’s last home game of the season is scheduled for this Thursday night against Allen.