Freedom’s girls’ basketball team placed second in the District XI Class 6A tournament after losing to Northampton, 60-52, last Thursday at Easton Area Middle School.

“They played their hearts out and sometimes when they play their hearts out, it’s not good enough,” said Freedom coach Dean Reiman. “I’m 100 percent confident they’re going to bounce back and get ready for the state playoffs.”

Half of the Patriots’ first-half points came from sophomore Jewel Levy and nine of those points were threes.

“It was a great experience overall and then I made my first shot and I was just feeling it and it just kept happening,” Levy said. “I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I was a freshman, since obviously last year we won, and I wanted to have a chance to be part of it.”

Freedom led 27-23 at halftime, playing their game, pushing the ball, making shots, everything they intended to do and were prepared to continue on with the same type of game plan in the second half.

“Obviously, I was very pleased with Jewel’s effort and I’m very proud of that,” said Coach Reiman. “I knew [Victoria] Keenan would get hers, but I thought it would be harder for them to duplicate what they did in the first half, but they did in the second half. They made a ton of shots.”

The Konkrete Kids scored 24 points in the third quarter to the Pates’ 12 points, and Northampton led, 47-39, to start the fourth. Keenan’s threes seemed to come from farther and farther beyond the arc as the second half proceeded.

With 6:03 remaining, Kailey Turpening sank a three pointer, pulling the Patriots’ to within seven points. Then, with the score 58-52 in the final 40 seconds, Freedom tried to find an opening for a three pointer but 20 seconds went by before any shot was made.

“We needed to stop their momentum because at the end, we were sort of losing it, but I think overall we played a great game,” said Levy.

Freedom will still get to compete in the PIAA State Class 6A tournament, scheduled to begin this Friday when the Patriots will face Souderton at 7:30 p.m. at Easton Area Middle School.