Faced with a possible downspin, Northampton head boys’ basketball coach Matt Scholl again watched his team respond with a positive upswing.

The Konkrete Kids recently suffered a 60-45 loss to Nazareth that snapped a five-game winning streak, and they then plowed through a sloppy, 40-37 win over Bethlehem Catholic.

But like they have all season, the Kids responded with a 59-42 victory over Pocono Mountain West at the Lehigh Valley Hoops Fest in a wild game that saw PM West’s coach being ejected

The Kids ended their regular season with a 80-46 rout of Freedom Monday night that left them with an overall 18-4 record and the second seed in the District 11 Class 6A bracket.

They will open defense of their East Penn Conference crown against Whitehall Friday night in the opening round of the league playoffs at home at 7 p.m.

“The win against Pocono Mountain West was significant for us, both in terms of seeding implications and the direction of our team,” stated Scholl. “Coming off a tough loss to Nazareth and an uncharacteristic performance at Becahi, our response mattered.

“Pocono Mountain West is a well-coached, physical team, and the environment at the Lehigh Valley Hoop Fest was intense. How we handled that moment said a lot about our group.”

Against Pocono Mountain West, Leo Regec had a team-high 21 points, and he hit several big free throws in the final quarter.

“Leo Regec set the tone on both ends of the floor,” noted Scholl. “He was locked into the scouting report, defended with purpose, and made timely plays offensively. More importantly, he was highly-coachable and played with great composure, which allowed us to establish control early and sustain it throughout the game.”

However, Scholl also saw another solid team effort by his club.

“That performance was not just about one player,” stressed Scholl. “Our key guys collectively raised their level—defensively, on the glass, and in how we communicated and competed.

“The effort and physicality were much closer to who we expected to be, and the team played with a clear sense of urgency and togetherness.”

Their final regular-season game also proved to be another example of the Kids’ tight bond and chemistry they have had throughout the season.

“We carried that momentum into our Senior Night against Freedom and finished the regular season strong,” beamed Scholl. “The response over those final two games showed growth, accountability, and resilience—exactly what we were looking for heading into the postseason.”