After getting an overtime scare from the two-win Dieruff Huskies the night before, the Konkrete Kids boys basketball team couldn’t afford to take anything for granted when Catasauqua came to town Saturday afternoon.

Northampton took care of business early, surging to a 38-19 halftime lead on the way to a stress-free, 71-53 win.

The MVPs from the Thanksgiving Day football game, Tyrese Brandon of Northampton and Andrew Martinez of Catasauqua, were representing their schools in competition again, albeit under less-hyped circumstances.

Donte Rodriguez sparked the first quarter advantage for the Kids, scoring seven of his nine total points in the period. He scored the final five points of the quarter to push Northampton out to an 18-8 lead.

The Kids won the second period by a score of 20-11. The keys were an eight-point run in the middle of the quarter and a Zach Gula buzzer-beating three to end the half.

Catty hung tough, winning the third quarter 17-15. Gula scored the final nine of his game total 20 points to keep the game out of the Roughs’ reach.

The fourth quarter turned into the Isaac Harris show. The talented freshman poured in 11 of his team-high 21 points in the period without missing a shot. Northampton outscored Catty 18-17 in the quarter.

Both teams were effective on their two-point field goal attempts (Kids 18-of-27, Catty 20-of-31). However, Northampton outscored the Roughs by 15 from beyond the arc and by seven from the line (14-of-16). This was a welcome turn of events for the Kids because poor free throw shooting was one of the main reasons for the closer-than-expected game with Dieruff.

The win brings the Kids’ record on the season to 8-5. Although Northampton needs only three more wins in their final nine games to qualify for the District XI playoffs, there are no gimmies on the remaining schedule. And that’s the way head coach Coy Stampone wants it.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Stampone said. “We play the teams we have to beat to get into districts. Everything’s in front of us and if we don’t get in, it’s our own fault. I say, ‘Just get in the dance.’ Last year we got in and made it all the way to the final. I don’t think teams will want to face us because we play hard and have a balanced team.”

The Kids’ next game is a road trip to play Pocono Mountain West on Friday night. Northampton’s next home game is Tuesday night against Central Catholic. That game will be a Coaches vs. Cancer event and will feature various charitable opportunities including raffling off a 50-inch television.