RECAP >> When Emmaus hosted undefeated Easton back on January 18 it was the Hornets who put a scare into the Red Rovers battling them to a 23-all tie at the half before the visitors used a big second half to pull away for a 55-33 victory.
Last night when the two met for the second time this season at Easton Area Middle School, it was Easton who flexed its muscles early and never let up in a dominating 31-point win.
The top-seeded Red Rovers used a balance scoring attack placing three players in double figures and nearly a fourth as they rolled to a 56-25 rout of the Hornets in the opening round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs.
Sophomore Evalyse Cole scored a game-high 13 points, senior Makenna Zimmerman and junior Anye Staton each added 12 and senior Sara Tamoun nine as Easton remained unbeaten on the season at 23-0. With the win, the Red Rovers advance to Tuesday’s semifinal round at PPL Center at 8 p.m. to take on fifth-seeded Bethlehem Catholic which defeated Central Catholic, the No.4 seed, 34-28.
The other semifinal at 6 p.m. will feature No.2 Northampton taking on No.6 Parkland. The finals are set for Thursday, February 17 at 6 p.m. at PPL Center.
For Emmaus, which was making its first appearance in the league playoffs in 15 years, it was tough night from the opening whistle as they fell behind 10-0 in the opening quarter and never recovered.
Sophomore Taylor Griffith led the Hornets with a team-high five points off the bench. Emmaus dropped to 12-11 overall after suffering its third straight loss and fourth in the last six games.
The Hornets will now prepare for the upcoming District XI playoffs. Emmaus is currently sixth in the latest rankings and would open up the tournament at third-seeded Nazareth.
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Easton 56, Emmaus 25
Em – 5-8-9-3 – 25
Ea – 20-16-17-3 – 56
Em – Paige Inman 2 0-0 4, Kam Watkins 1 0-0 3, Grace Oglesbee 1 0-0 2, Sarah Hoch 1 0-0 3, Mya Cooper 0 4-4 4, Taylor Griffith 2 0-0 5, Julia Adams 0 2-2 2, Emma Naccarato 1 0-0 2, Alyssa Brader 0 0-0 0, Sofie Laird 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 8, FT 6-6, 3s (3 – Watkins, Hoch, Griffith)
Ea – Sara Tamoun 3 2-2 9, Evalyse Cole 5 1-2 13, Makenna Zimmerman 4 4-4 12, Anye Staton 6 0-0 12, Megan Elias 1 0-0 2, Kierra Smith 2 0-0 4, Olivia Keckler 2 0-0 4, Mallory Elias 0 0-0 0, Sydney Luciano 0 0-0 0. Totals: FG 23, FT 7-8, 3s (3 – Cole 2, Tamoun)