This past week was one of the most exciting weeks in a long time for Emmaus girls basketball.

The week started with a disappointing 60-24 loss at Parkland, but things picked up from there with a thrilling double overtime win at home against Easton, in a game that the Lady Hornets trailed by as many as 10 points. The following night, Emmaus again almost wound up in overtime, but couldn't get one final basket to fall and dropped a heartbreaker to Northwestern, 28-26, who came into the game 13-0 on the season.

A lot of the excitement this past week came from junior Beth Wiseley, who hit a clutch three-pointer and a free throw in the final seconds of the second overtime as Emmaus downed Easton 45-44 last Friday night. For Wiseley, it was just another highlight in what is becoming a pretty distinguished career.

"When I was at the line, I really was just thinking, 'This is it,'" said Wiseley. "And I knew I had to make at least one of those shots for us to win it there."

Wiseley was held scoreless in the second half against Easton, but hit for seven points in the two overtime periods to finish the night with 11 points. On the season, she's averaging just under 14 points per game as Emmaus' leading scorer.

With the up-and-down week, Emmaus is now 6-8 overall and 3-5 in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Emmaus has to win five of its remaining eight games to reach districts and it won't be easy, thanks to an unenviable schedule that has them going up against top teams like Liberty, Bethlehem Catholic, Bangor and a season-ending showdown with Central Catholic.

"If we want to get into districts, we have to fight for every game," said Wiseley after hitting her game-winning free throws. "We have a road map on how to get to districts and it definitely included winning tonight [against Easton]."

The Wiseley family is no stranger to big moments in high school basketball. Beth's older sister Trish played for Emmaus, as did her big brother Matt, who was on last year's boys team that came up just short of a PIAA Tournament bid. And before Matt, Frank Wiseley was a force to be reckoned with in Emmaus basketball. Even with all of the Wiseleys who have gone before her both academically and athletically, Beth Wiseley is good enough to be making her own name at Emmaus.

"I don't take it as pressure, I take it as motivation," she said. "I've seen what they did and the success that they have and I want to be just like that. I want to be my own type of player."

"Beth struggled for a lot of the game [against Easton], but she still did things to help us stay close; a smart play here, a big rebound there," said coach Billy Dunn. "She carries the pressure of having older siblings who were all great players and great people, plus, she's helping to carry this team as a junior, and even when she was a sophomore, and she handles it all very well. When she does leave here, I'm going to miss Beth the basketball player, but I'm also going to miss Beth the person, because she's is such a good person to be around."

Dunn gave credit to his team for chipping away at Easton's 10-point lead at a key point in the game. Early in the third quarter, Dunn called a timeout with his team down 26-19. The coaches made one little adjustment to what they were doing, but the execution was all on the players and they responded well.

"As much as I'd like to take credit, we really just made one little change. One little thing, but the girls executed everything beautifully and got themselves back into the game, so that credit goes to them," said Dunn.

As for the tough remaining schedule, Dunn is excited about the possibilities.

"I love to be challenged. So if you're going to say to me, 'You go Parkland, Easton, Northwestern, Liberty, Beca, Bangor;' I'm saying, 'Let's go, let's get after it,'" said Dunn.