Heading into the second half of the season, Northampton head boys’ basketball coach Matt Scholl is confident his team can continue their ascent toward the postseason.

The Konkrete Kids are the defending East Penn Conference (EPC) champions.

Beginning this week, the Kids had an 11-3 record. Scholl knows his team has to stay on a steady stream.

The record includes a very tough loss to Blue Mountain.

“The record comes on the heels of a disappointing loss to Blue Mountain (62-58), a game in which Northampton held a 15-point lead before letting it slip away,” Scholl said, recently. “While we have shown flashes of being a championship-level team, consistency remains the key area for growth.”

One key for the Kids will be playing a complete game. The Kids bounced back with wins over Nazareth and Freedom before a loss to Lower Merion, but then a recent win over Central.

“To this point, we have only played four complete quarters once this season,” added Scholl soon after the Blue Mountain game. “That’s something the coaching staff believes does not match the team’s talent level or potential.”

Senior Noah Walakovits, who recently broke the 1,000-point career barrier and is the team’s leading scorer averaging 14.6 points per game, sees the team on the right track.

“The team is playing well right now,” said Walakovits. “Our chemistry is flowing. My game has been improving, but I know I have more to work on.”

With their consistent play, Scholl wants his players to stay the course.

“The program’s goal remains clear ... compete for another championship,” stressed Scholl. “But that will require improved practice habits, greater attention to detail, and a renewed commitment to prioritizing basketball on a daily basis.”

Like many teams, the Kids have a busy January and February ahead. Scholl hopes his team utilizes their time.

“We did not play any games over the holiday break,” Said Scholl. “As a result, the schedule will be busy over the next few weeks. The upcoming stretch presents an important opportunity for us to address our weaknesses, build consistency, and take meaningful steps forward.”