A tough loss ended the Northampton girls varsity basketball team’s season on Feb. 22, as the Kids were outscored in overtime by Freedom High School in the District 11 Quarterfinals at Catasauqua, 64-48.

The seventh seed in the District 11 Class 6A tournament, Northampton grabbed an early lead against number-two seed Freedom with a score of 11-6 at the end of the first quarter. From that point on, however, the game became a matter to trading places.

With a quick steal, Northampton’s Victoria Keenan would propel the Kids to a lead toward the end of the second, but the Patriots would answer back leaving the score tied at 21-21 as they entered the intermission.

Northampton’s Jenna Rogers would go to battle with two consecutive scores in the third and Keenan would follow up with a three-pointer, but Freedom would answer again. With 14 points scored by each team in the third, the quarter ended with a tied score once again at 34-34.

Once more in the fourth quarter, Rogers would rally and give the Kids an advantage with two free throws, but the Kid’s lead was quickly erased by the Patriots again. At the end of regulation, the game was in a 48-48 tie.

The extra period offered a chance to turn the tables, but the Kids, who had answered each Freedom rally, found themselves unable to respond to 16 Patriot points. The quarterfinal game ended with Northampton scoreless in overtime.

While the loss, it marked the end of the 2017-2018 season for the Kids, but the girls’ season was not without victories, and the team walked away from a winning season feeling proud of what they accomplished.

“I’d say we had a successful season overall,” said Northampton’s head coach Jeff Jacksits. “We won the Owen J. Roberts kickoff, we made it to districts. We set these goals early in the season and we achieved them.”

With this season behind them a little time to reflect, Jacksits is already planning for the future.

“We have a good core of kids returning next year. We have three starters coming back and nine freshmen moving up that played JV this year,” said Jacksits. “We’ll still be a young team but I’m looking forward to seeing how the team develops next year.”