Most basketball coaches will tell you that you can win a lot of games with good guard play.
Avon Mack has the luxury of having arguably not one but the two best guards in the area.
During the coach’s first year at Emmaus, both junior Gabby DeVita and sophomore Kayla Snyder have shined in the backcourt in helping lead the Hornets to a magical year, which has included an undefeated regular-season in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, the program’s first league championship in 18 years and a 21-game win streak.
In all but two games this season, both DeVita and Snyder have been the team’s leading scorers.
On Friday night in the opening-round of the District XI Class 6A quarterfinals at Whitehall High School, the two dynamic guards were at it again as top-seeded Emmaus crushed the eighth-seeded Northampton, 58-30.
Snyder scored a game-high 19 points and DeVita added 13 as the Hornets jumped out to a big early lead and were in cruise control throughout, improving to 25-1 overall and winning their 22nd straight game.
“It was nice that we won, and we got some things that we need to clean up but that’s probably due to being off for a week since our last game,” said Mack following the victory. “Northampton is a team that didn’t fare well this year (10-12 overall) but we don’t take anyone lightly. We came out with intensity early in the game. Our second and third quarters could have been better, but we’ll get back in the lab and refocus and get ready for Parkland.”
Indeed.
The fourth meeting between the Hornets and their archrival is now set as the two will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the semifinals back at Whitehall with a lot on the line.
A berth in the district championship game will go to the winner and a spot in the PIAA State Tournament. Emmaus has already beaten Parkland three times this season, twice during the regular-season and also in the EPC semifinals.
Thanks to Snyder’s play in the opening half against Northampton in which she scored 15 points, the Hornets will have that opportunity for yet another meeting against the Trojans.
“She’s the heartbeat of this team,” said Mack of Snyder. “As she goes, we go. She has a very high basketball IQ and she’s the floor general. When we can get her going early, we’re a tough team to deal with. She did a very nice job today and I’m proud of her.”
Snyder had eight points in the first quarter and added seven more in the second as Emmaus led comfortably at the break, 33-15. The Hornets then outscored Northampton 25-15 the rest of the way.
DeVita, who reached double figures for the 16th straight game, did most of her damage in the second half scoring eight points.
Senior Cassie Doemling also had a solid game for the Hornets finishing with nine points.
Northampton, which struggled from the field all night, was paced by Anne Beenders who had a team-high 14 points. The Konkrete Kids ended their season at 10-13.
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Emmaus 58, Northampton 30
No – Anne Beenders 6 0-0 14, Abbie Luipersbeck 1 0-0 3, Jenna Raysely 1 1-2 3, Rosalie Echevarria 2 0-0 4, Isabella Pecuch 2 2-2 6, Laila Reichl 0, Emilia Hirschman 0, Carly Pearl 0, Hannah Duerr 0, Keylly Reenock 0, Abigail Wright 0. Totals: FG 12, FT 3-4, 3s (Beenders 2, Luipersbeck)
Em – Kayla Snyder 7 2-2 19, Gabby DeVita 5 0-2 13, Sylvia Sokolofski 1 0-0 2, Sofie Laird 2 0-0 4, Cassie Doemling 3 3-4 9, Emma Naccarato 3 0-0 6, Olive Whitney 1 0-2 2, Kaitlyn Grochowski 0, Olivia Haberl 0 1-2 1, Sierra Stevens 0, Eva Glover 0. Totals: FG 23, FT 6-12, 3s (6 – Snyder 3, DeVita 3)
No – 6-9-8-7 – 30
Em – 16-17-11-14 – 58