Kristen Burdo said she knew right away the Perkiomen School girls basketball team would be good.  At the tryouts in November, Burdo said she noticed that several of the returning players had improved. She expected them to "pick up the offensive slack" lost with the graduation of Nicole Pupillo. 

                "I knew we would have a good team," Burdo said.

                On Friday, the Panthers posted their sixth straight victory. Burdo scored a game-high 16 points and added 12 rebounds to lead them to a 51-19 home win over the Kimberton Waldorf School in the Tri-County League. Jordan Barth contributed 12 points and 12 boards, while Stephanie Caltrone added 10 points.  Eight of Burdo's points came in the first quarter, when Perkiomen School (11-3) jumped to a commanding 15-0 lead.

                The Panthers are playing better than expected, according to head coach Randy Littlefield. He said it would be fair to expect them to play for their third straight league championship.

                "We're pretty proud of that," Littlefield said. "This is a real good team. It's a fun group to coach."

                With Burdo and Barth, Perkiomen School has two legitimate low post players, according to Littlefield. 

                "The guards always get the ball down low to us," said Burdo, a junior from Audobon. "That usually leads to a good shot for someone."

                Since a 51-36 loss to Springside Chestnut Hill in early December, the Panthers have been challenged in four non-league games. They have succeeded in three of those contests.

                In an opening round game of the Spartans' Annual Tournament, they posted a 42-40 win over Pennington School. The next day, they suffered a 52-35 loss to Friends Central.

                On Jan. 17, at the Kobe Bryant Classic Invitational, Perkiomen School gained a measure of revenge against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy by posting a 53-48 win.  Barth scored 17 points and Stephanie Falcone added 15 to help the Panthers build a 35-28 halftime edge, then hang on for the victory.

                Littlefield called it the best game his team has played against a competitive team this season.

                Though the Panthers weren't challenged Friday against Kimberton Waldorf School, the coach used the game to extend their bench and to get Helena Tang on the floor for the first time this season.

                Tang, who missed the previous 12 games with a broken knee cap, contributed defensively against Kimberton Waldorf.  According to Littlefield, her effort set an example.  "Helena stole the ball a few times and forced some bad passes," the coach said. "Because of the tone she set, I saw three other players trying to be aggressive on defense."

                Littlefield expects Tang, who showed no sluggishness according to the coach, to play a significant role in the team's postseason run.  "I expect Helena to be one of our first players off the bench," the coach said.

                On Saturday, the Panthers lost 60-41 to Abington Friends Central.

                According to the coach, Perkiomen School's final three non-league games should provide a much needed challenge as it prepares for the league playoffs. That slate includes games against the Collegium Charter School, Pennington School and Upper Perkiomen.