Last Thursday, the Northampton girls basketball team punched their tickets to the state playoffs with a 70-51 win over Easton in the District XI 6A quarterfinals.

On Monday, the Kids put themselves in position to claim their first district title since 2011 with a 60-47 win over Parkland at Catasauqua.

The Trojans led 16-12 after the first period on the strength of their three-point shooting and layup just before the horn sounded.

In the second quarter, Northampton held Parkland scoreless for the first five minutes and finished the period on a seven-point run to take a 24-21 lead into halftime.

There were some anxious moments early in the second quarter for the Orange and Black when Victoria Keenan took a hard foul on a drive to the basket and laid on the floor for a few seconds. She shook off the collision and made 1-of-2 free throws.

The Kids started the third period on a 12-4 run to build a 36-25 advantage midway through the quarter. Just went it looked like Northampton would be able to go on cruise control, Parkland scored the next nine points to cut the lead to two. The Kids rallied for the final six points of the period and took a 42-34 lead into the final quarter.

Keenan put the team on her back in the final stanza as she scored Northampton’s first 12 points of the period and wreaked havoc with the Trojans’ ability to inbound the ball by forcing a couple of steals in the backcourt and turning them into layups. Parkland never got closer than nine points and the Kids walked off the court to a standing ovation from the raucous Northampton crowd.

Keenan led all scorers with 32 points and added five rebounds and five steals for good measure. Jenna Rogers had 12 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and four blocks. Morgan Sterner chipped in 11 points.

Northampton’s opponent in the final will be defending District XI 6A champion and two-seed Freedom. The Kids and the Patriots met in the regular season on Jan. 8 in Northampton. Freedom held a 30-29 lead at the half and the score was tied 54-54 with just under a minute to play before the Kids prevailed 58-57.

Freedom dismantled Nazareth 48-32 in their semifinal contest largely on the strength of an 18-1 second period after the Blue Eagles had taken an 11-4 lead after the first quarter.

Head coach Jeff Jacksits knows his team will have to bring maximum effort to knock off the defending champs.

“They put it to us (in the regular season game),” Jacksits said. “We had dead legs it seemed to me the last time we played them. We can’t have that this time or they’ll be putting in layup after layup. I thought last year we left an opportunity get by when we took Freedom to overtime.”

The District XI championship game will be held Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Easton Middle School. Tickets are $7 at the gate for everyone, $4 pregame for students and senior citizens.