RECAP >> If there was any question how Emmaus would respond following its disappointing District XI semifinal loss on Wednesday, that question was answered — and emphatically by head coach Steve Yoder’s team.
Playing a brand of basketball that led them to 18 wins in 22 regular-season games and the No.1 seed in both the EPC and District XI tournaments, the Hornets played inspired and with a sense of urgency in their early 11:30 a.m. start at Easton Middle School as they defeated Freedom 77-66 in the consolation game, earning the district’s final berth into the PIAA State Tournament.
Emmaus, which had defeated Freedom 66-65 in overtime earlier this season, outscored the Patriots in three of the four quarters, to earn the win and improve to 20-6 overall.
The Hornets used a balanced scoring attack with three players reaching double figures and two others just missing out by a point.
Senior Dylan Darville, who was held scoreless the other night, had his second highest offensive output of the season, leading Emmaus with a team-high 22 points, while junior Will Barber added 18 and senior Chase Muckey a career-high 14 points, including 10 in the third quarter. Junior Jametric Harris and Jake Fotta each added nine points.
Freedom had three players reach double figures in the loss. Senior Nick Ellis matched Darville with a game-high 22 points and also became the program’s all-time leading scorer in the game. Senior Jalen Fletcher added 16 points, while classmate Jaden Tillet added 13. The Patriots ended the season with three straight losses and finished the year 15-11.
Up next for Emmaus will be a trip to the PIAA Class 6A State Tournament next Saturday at 3 p.m.. The Hornets will travel to the Lancaster area to take on Hempfield, the third-place team from District 3. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network.
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Emmaus 77, Freedom 66
Fr – 16-12-17-21 – 66
Em – 17-20-24-16 – 77
Fr – Aaron Levy 3 1-2 7, KJ Mangroo 2 0-0 4, Jalen Fletcher 5 5-6 16, Jaden Tillet 5 1-2 13, Nick Ellis 6 8-8 22, Joe Dew 0 0-0 0, Nathaniel Sletvold 1 2-4 4. Totals: FG 22, FT 17-22, 3s – 5 ( Ellis 2, Tillet 2, Fletcher)
Em – Will Barber 6 5-7 18, Dylan Darville 8 5-8 22, Jametric Harris 4 1-2 9, Jake Fotta 4 0-0 9, Chase Muckey 5 2-2 14, Teague McCourt 0 0-0 0, Jackson Lake 0 0-0 0, Rafael Terrero 2 1-2 5. Totals: FG 29, FT 14-21, 3s – 4 (Muckey 2, Fotta, Darville)