As defending champions, Northampton’s Morgan Sterner and her teammates are anxious for this week’s playoffs as well as a possible rematch down the road.

The third-seeded Konkrete Kids (18-5) will meet sixth-seeded Pocono Mountain West (14-8) in a PIAA District 11 Class 6A quarterfinal game at Pleasant Valley High School Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Kids beat them, 50-32, in a regular-season matchup Jan. 15.

“I’m really excited about districts,” said Sterner, a junior who is the Kids’ leading scorer averaging 13 per game. “We played Pocono Mountain West once and it was a tough game until we pulled away at the end. It is going to be a good matchup, and each team is going to give a good fight.”

The Kids scrimmaged Northwestern earlier this week, and head coach Jeff Jacksits expects his team will be tested especially due to the recent passing of the Panthers’ head coach Stacy Perryman, who lost her battle with cancer.

“They are excited, but they realize that Pocono Mountain West will be tougher than the first time we played them and won by 18 (points),” said Jacksits. “I expect PM West to play with a lot of emotion since the passing of coach Perryman.”

Jacksits also knows his team has Freedom on its radar. If the Kids get past the Panthers, they likely will have a rematch with the second-seeded Patriots, who beat them, 57-50 in overtime, in an East Penn Conference tournament game Feb. 7.

Freedom earlier dumped Northampton, 45-37, during the regular season Jan. 4. After that loss, the Kids reeled off a nine-game winning streak only to be stopped by Nazareth Jan. 31. Freedom and Nazareth each beat the Kids twice and Parkland added their fifth loss this year.

“I think they are looking forward to a possible rematch with Freedom,” added Jacksits. “They feel pretty good about their chances.

“It would be awesome for the chance to play Freedom,” stated Sterner. “They are a well put together team and all work really well together. It’s hard to beat a team three times during a season. I know that if we play well for four quarters, we can come out on top.

“I am very excited for the playoffs to play with the best of the best.”