Northampton’s boys basketball team achieved a major goal when it qualified for the upcoming district playoffs, and the Konkrete Kids will see a familiar opponent for the third time this season.

However, the Kids can take another major step with a district win this Saturday that will propel them into the PIAA state tournament, as the top four teams in the district 6A bracket will advance.

The third-seeded Kids will meet sixth-seeded Parkland at Allen High School Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinal game at 1 p.m. If the Kids win, they will meet the winner of the Pocono Mountain West-Allen matchup next week in the semifinals.

The Kids split the season series in the East Penn Conference (EPC), beating the Trojans on their home floor, 71-64, on Jan. 3, and then dropping a 48-47 overtime decision on their senior night Feb. 8.

Head coach Coy Stampone doesn’t expect to see any new wrinkles with the Trojans. The Kids (16-7) scrimmaged Catasauqua Wednesday to try to keep to their weekly routine.

“We had two really good games against them,” said Stampone. “We have a lot of time to work on some things. But we both know each other well.

“We wanted to get a scrimmage Wednesday to get into our regular weekly schedule of playing games. We expect to have another tight battle with them.”

The Kids will enter the postseason with a four-game losing streak, their last defeat coming to Allentown Central Catholic, 64-48, in the EPC playoffs.

But they reeled off an impressive 13-game winning streak that began at the Salisbury tournament Dec. 27 and ended at Nazareth Feb. 2. In the process, the Kids clinched an early district berth.

It was a season of surprises and raised expectations.

“I never expected us to have a 13-game winning streak,” said Stampone. “We were the only team in the area to beat Becahi during the regular season.

“We also have four sophomores who contributed on a regular basis - Tyrese Brandon, Spencer Cole, Zach Gula, and Donte Rodriguez – and they all made a great impact. They all also helped bring a lot of intensity to the team.”

Stampone sees this team as possibly having the best overall chemistry in his sixth season at the helm.

“I think they measure with Garrett Oplinger’s crew four years ago when Aidan (Ellwood) was a freshman,” he said. “They have really developed as a team and we have had our share of meaningful wins.

“These kids have played with a lot of confidence all season and now they have to carry it forward.”