The Northampton boys basketball team will be led by a group of 8 seniors this season.

They will be looking to improve on a 12-11 mark last year where they earned the #10 seed in districts and were knocked out in the first round by Parkland.

The senior tri-captains are guard Donte Rodriguez, forward Jake Christman, and last year’s leading scorer, guard/forward Zac Gula.

The team’s centers are senior James Robinson and junior Jon Altomare.

The forwards are senior Isaiah Tyler and sophomore Lucas Lesko.

The other members of the backcourt are seniors Spencer Cole, Jared Saul, and Zach Christman, junior Joe Kerbacher, and sophomores Isaiah Harris and Isaac Harris, who started as a freshman last year.

Head coach Coy Stampone spoke about the advantages of his senior-laden team.

“We’ve got some experience,” he said. “We have guys that played quality varsity minutes as 10th graders when we made it to the district finals two years ago. Hopefully that leadership will carry on.”

Stampone was impressed with the improvement the players have shown since last season.

“These kids work so hard in the offseason,” he said. “In the spring when we were done and over the summer and the fall, they were in the weight room all the time and open gyms. They don’t miss anything. It’s great to be around those guys.”

Gula offered his thoughts on what the team needed to do to get further in the postseason this year.

“Just be more consistent,” he said. “Last year we had some very good games and we also had some very bad games. This year we need to beat teams we’re supposed to beat in order to get to leagues. That’s really the goal.”

Gula pointed out two players who have advanced their games and could help the team get to the next level.

“Isaac Harris, he’s a sophomore now,” Gula said. “He’s going to be really good. Jon (Altomare) because he’s so big (6-6). Not many teams have a big guy like him, so if he can put it all together, we can be very good.”

District XI 6A boys basketball has featured a lot of balance and unpredictability over the last few years. The last three district champions have been Pocono Mountain West, East Stroudsburg South, and Allen last year. The Canaries won the final as the 5th seed over 7th seeded Parkland.

The K-Kids open their season Friday night with a nonconference game at Catty. They host division rival Whitehall on Tuesday night for the start of EPC play.