With less than four minutes to play and the Hornets holding an eight-point lead, Emmaus head coach Steve Yoder gave his team an ultimatum.

Following a Northampton field goal that pulled the Konkrete Kids to within 56-48, Yoder challenged the Hornets' defense to allow just one more bucket the rest of the way. Allowing two or more field goals would result in the Hornets running in practice in the ensuing days.

And while the Konkrete Kids did get that second field goal, it came with less than 30 seconds to play when Emmaus held a 20-point lead. Yoder was not displeased with his team's defense in the final stretch. The Hornets closed the game on a 14-4 run to down the Konkrete Kids, 70-52, last Tuesday at Emmaus High School.

"It's the defense we try to get for a full game," said Emmaus' Tyler Prescott. "We're a really good fourth quarter team. We try to keep it to a minimum amount of baskets at the end of the fourth quarter, so no crazy runs happen and we don't get upset."

Following an early double-digit lead for Emmaus that held until late in the second quarter, the Konkrete Kids used a 9-3 run to begin the second half to make it a one-possession game at 35-33. The Konkrete Kids' momentum shifted into the final quarter, and Garrett Oplinger's rebound and put back brought Northampton to within 47-42.

While the Hornets' defense as a whole was impressive in the final four minutes, one of the team's senior leaders began that spark just moments earlier.

Prescott, who finished with 15 points, pushed Emmaus' lead to 49-42 after his steal with six minutes to play resulted in a layup in transition. Not even 30 seconds later, Prescott hit a pull-up jumper on the left wing to make it 51-42. On the Konkrete Kids' next possession, Joey Polczynski recorded a steal and found a streaking Prescott for a layup that pushed the Hornets' lead back to double digits.

"Coach pulled me out at the end of the third quarter," Prescott said. "He pulled me aside and said you're a starter, and you're not playing the way you are supposed to be. He just said that I needed to pick it up.

"I sat there and thought about it for a little bit. I realized it's the fourth quarter, and we have to go. This game is way too close."

The Hornets, in particular David Kachelries (15 points and six assists), got off to a fast start. Kachelries scored six of his 15 in the opening period, and he had a hand in six of the Hornets' first eight field goals that resulted in a 17-8 lead after the first quarter.

"It's just about being consistent on the defensive end mostly," Prescott said. "Because our offense, once we move the ball, we can flow."

The Hornets' lead grew to as many as 11 late in the second quarter after Kachelries set up Greg Jaindl for a three-point play. Emmaus led 32-24 at halftime before the Konkrete Kids made their run in the second half.

"It helps our confidence a lot to let us know that no matter how close the game is, we can always battle back," Prescott said. "We can always give the defensive effort to gain separation. We play really good together on offense and defense."

To go along with a combined 30 from Prescott and Kachelries, Brandon Rapose scored 13 points, and Polczynski added 12 and nine rebounds for the Hornets.

Oplinger led Northampton with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Aidan Ellwood scored 10 and Alquinton McNeil added eight.

Results from the Hornets' run in the Mirabito Stop-DWI Holiday Classic in Binghamton, New York were not available at time of press.