RECAP >> Having already played rival Central Catholic once this season and being held to a season-low 26 points, you wouldn’t or couldn’t think the next time around could be any worse for head coach Steve Yoder’s team when they met the defending Class 4A state champs in the second meeting on Monday at Rockne Hall right?
It was.
In fact, it was worse.
Central Catholic (14-2 EPC/19-3 overall) came out blistering hot from the opening whistle and never let up as they handed Emmaus (10-6/16-6) yet another blowout – this time a 38-point margin – as the Vikings cruised to any easy 56-18 win.
They also held the Hornets to their second lowest offensive output of the season and in the last 18 years.
Emmaus was looking to avenge for a 29-point loss at home to the Vikings back on January 21 but it never happened.
“Considering how consistent we’ve been this year, for the most part, it was a rough night, there’s no doubt about it,” understated Emmaus ’14th year coach outside his team’s locker room following a lengthy discussion with his squad.
“You play this game long enough and if you coach this game long enough everybody’s been in a game like this.”
Emmaus, which was coming off arguably its best game of the season just five days ago following a 21-point rout over rival Parkland, 51-30, will certainly want to put this one in the rear view mirror after being held to a measly six field goals in 40 minutes of action.
“Central’s definitely not a good matchup for us,” said Yoder. “They are not a good matchup for just about everybody. They seem to have our number right now and it happens. I’ve certainly had their number over the years a few times and it’s tough to be on that end on things but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
The Vikings had 11 3-pointers in the game and had nine different players score in the victory led by junior Nico Pulleri and senior Tyson Thomas who each had 15 points. Pulleri scored all of his points in the first half on five 3-pointers, while Thomas also added nine as the Vikings led 19-3 after one quarter and had a comfortable 27-point lead (33-6) at the half.
Meanwhile, Emmaus managed just a pair of field goals shooting just 14 percent (2-for-14) from the floor.
“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” said Yoder. “Obviously we didn’t have many field goals the entire game and that was the most frustrating part. When you don’t score it puts them in a opportunity to push the ball up the floor and get easy baskets and gives them confidence.
“I think offensively it was probably the most disappointing thing about tonight.”
Junior Dylan Darville led Emmaus with a team-high eight points. Just four players scored in the loss for the Hornets.
Emmaus will now try to regroup and and prepare for what lies ahead — the upcoming EPC quarterfinals on Friday and a possible third meeting against Central Catholic. The Hornets are likely to be the No.7 seed, while the Vikings are locked in at No.2.
“It’s a tough matchup for us but all of us as competitors would love another opportunity,” said Yoder whose team went just 3-4 in its last seven games. “Maybe we end up regretting it, but these boys don’t lace them up because they are afraid to play people and we don’t coach them up because we are afraid to coach against people – by any means.
“To this point it hasn’t been a good matchup but if we have an opportunity to play them again the boys will be here on Friday night and we are going to come here with bad intentions and those intentions are to win.”
CCHS 56, Emmaus 18
Em – 3-3-5-7 – 18
CC – 19-14-5-18 – 56
Em – Will Barber 0 0-1 0, Dylan Darville 3 1-2 8, Ryan Santos 0 0-0 0, Jaden Gallagher 0 0-2 0, Jadis Brevitt 0 2-2 2, Chase Muckey 0 0-0 0, Jametric Harris 2 0-0 5, Ryan Diehl 0 0-0 0, Ben Kieres 0 0-0 0, Wilson Charlot 1 1-2 3, Mike Whittland 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 6, FT 4-9, 3s (2 – Darville, Harris)
CC – Tyson Thomas 5 3-4 15, Nico Pulleri 5 0-0 15, Griffin Patridge 1 0-0 3, Jahrel Vigo 1 0-0 2, LIam Joyce 3 0-0 6, Anthony Jones 0 0-0 0, Brendan Reed 0 0-0 0, Tyler Snyder 2 0-0 5, David Fridai 2 0-0 5, Lucas Mushrush 0 0-0 0, Cole Cook 0 0-0 0, Cael Hines 0 0-0 0, NaSean Davis 1 0-0 2, Tim Spinosa 1 0-0 3, Ja’Keir Ensley 0 0-0 0, Allistar Stewart Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 21, FT 3-4, 3s (11 – Pulleri 5, Thomas 2, Patridge, Snyder, Fridia, Spinosa)