The much-anticipated season of Emmaus girls’ basketball got underway on Saturday afternoon on a winning note for the Hornets and their first-year head coach Avon Mack Jr. as they went on the road and defeated a highly regarded Wilson squad 55-48.
The matchup featured two teams that reached their respective league championships a year ago, both PIAA state qualifiers and both with new head coaches.
In the victory, sophomore Kayla Snyder and junior Gabby DeVita combined for 33 points for Emmaus, which had lost its season-opener a year ago at home to Wilson 60-45.
In that meeting, it was sophomore standout Laila Jones pouring in a career-high 30 points as the Bulldogs spoiled the Hornets home opener.
This time, without Jones in the lineup due to an ACL injury, Emmaus was able to reverse their fortunes.
Snyder, the team’s leading scorer from a year ago, led the Hornets with a team-high 19 points, while DeVita added 14 for Emmaus, which outscored the hosts in three of the four quarters.
Wilson, which went 24-5 a season ago, was paced by sophomore Kailani Hardy who led all scorers with a game-high 25 points. Teammate, junior Laura Crocona, added 12, but left a number of points from the free-throw line where she was just 6 of 15 for the game.
Both teams struggled from the free-throw line with Emmaus shooting 58 percent (11 of 19) and Wilson 56 percent (18 of 32).
Emmaus will return to action on Monday at 7 p.m. as they open EPC play traveling to Central Catholic.
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Emmaus – Kayla Snyder 7 3-4 19, Gabby DeVita 5 4-7 14, Syliva Sokolofski 2 2-2 6, Sofie Laird 0 0-0 0, Cassie Doemling 2 2-2 6, Olive Whitney 2 0-0 4, Emma Naccarato 1 0-0 2, Sierra Stevens 2 0-2 4, Olivia Haberl 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 21, FT 11-19, 3s (2 – Snyder)
Wilson – Violet Houck 3 0-0 6, Janai Tisdale 0 3-4 3, Laura Crocona 3 6-15 12, Emma Williams 1 0-1 2, Kailaini Hardy 7 9-12 25, Ryan Leaman 0 0-0 0, Mckeena Peacock 0 0-0 0, Jade Lee 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 14, FT 18-32, 3s (2 – Hardy 2)
Em – 8-18-16-13 – 55
Wilson – 7-15-13-13 – 48