Don't look now, but one-third of the high school basketball season is over and the Emmaus girls find themselves at 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Lehigh Valley Conference. This past week produced a 1-1 record, with a 39-36 win over a pretty good Tamaqua team and a loss to another quality team, the Southern Lehigh Spartans at the Southern Lehigh Holiday Tournament.

Against Southern Lehigh, Emmaus jumped out to an early lead, but Southern Lehigh battled back to lead by three at the half. The second half was all Spartans as they found their three-point range and wound up with a 56-31 win over Emmaus.

"We were up 9-4 early and had three or four layups where we had really good opportunities and we didn't take advantage," said Coach Billy Dunn. "If you go up 13-4 or 15-4, it's a different game and they have to change their strategy."

Missed layups and shooting just 44 percent from the free throw line hurt Emmaus' chances at repeating as champions in the Southern Lehigh Tournament.

"Again, if you hit even just six or seven of those missed shots, we stay in the game early instead of them opening up a lead. You've got to knock down shots when you have the chance," said Dunn.

Early on, the Hornets were able to contain Southern Lehigh's Madelene McDonald, who scored just four points in the first quarter, but went on to score a game-high 22 and take home the Tournament MVP Award. Drea Watkins led Emmaus with nine points and was named to the All-Tournament team along with teammate Beth Wiseley.

Late in the second quarter, the Spartans' Melann Amory hit a three-pointer that put Southern Lehigh up 19-18 and it wouldn't relinquish the lead after that. Amory came out in the second half and hit three quick three-pointers to open up the lead for the Spartans. Meanwhile, Emmaus went 0-for-6 on three-pointers in the game.

"I thought we did a good job in the first half, but then we really made some not-so-smart plays and we'd give them uncontested layups, so you work hard, work hard, work hard and then give up a layup," pointed out Dunn when talking about his team's play.

Coming into the Holiday Tournament, Dunn had talked about not wanting his team to take a step back, but the split in the two games was difficult for him to judge.

"I don't know what step we took, I honestly have to watch the tape and see things again," Dunn said. "Southern Lehigh is a really good team and we played hard against them and overall, I'm proud of our girls and the effort they're making, but certainly, I'm disappointed with the loss. We just need to get better at some things."

Emmaus starts the New Year with five straight LVC games, starting with a game at Northampton, followed by home games against Nazareth and Whitehall. Northampton and Whitehall are a combined 3-13, but Nazareth, at 6-1, will present a big challenge for the Lady Hornets.

College girls return

Former Lady Hornet Leah Horton was in attendance at the Southern Lehigh game to watch her old teammates. Horton would have rather been with her Temple teammates as they traveled to Michigan State, but she's sidelined with a concussion and wasn't allowed to fly to make the trip. Things are going well for Horton at Temple; she finished her first college semester with a 3.4 GPA and has seen action in three of Temple's games, averaging two points per game.

"It was great to see her," said Dunn of Horton's visit. "Leah, Sandra [Gee] and Shaniece [Jackson] all stopped by at least one practice to say hi and visit and that's great when former players come back to see you and talk to the girls about playing at the next level."

Gee is playing at Montclair and has played in all 12 of the Red Hawks' games this season, recording a team-high 15 blocks. Jackson has played in two games for Shippensburg, recording two rebounds for the Raiders.