The Emmaus girls basketball team seemingly turned a corner last season when they went from a combined mark of 4-28 in the EPC and 10-34 overall over the previous two seasons.

The 2019 edition of the Lady Hornets improved to 5-11 in the EPC and 10-12 overall, just missing a shot at playing in the District 11 tournament. With a late start to the 2020 season, Emmaus is looking to continue that improvement and earn its first spot in districts since the 2013-2014 season.

This year’s seniors were freshmen when coach Kelsey Gallagher took over the team for the 2017-2018 season and went to work changing the atmosphere surrounding the program.

The four seniors on the team – Stephanie Klemick, Gabrielle Martin, Bianca Rollins and Marah Sisonick – are now well versed in the scheme that Gallagher brought to the team, stressing defense first.

“We stressed defense and worked on that and finishing around the rim a lot when we first had practice,” said Gallagher recently during last month’s three-week shutdown of high school sports. “Of course, we worked on other things and had very productive practices, but defense was the priority.

“When we get back on the court, the priorities will be defense and finishing around the rim.”

The hiatus brought on by COVID has presented some unique challenges for teams who look to not only work on their game plans, but also use early practices to draw the team together.

Gallagher organized virtual team game nights to give her players something to do and to help bring them together. She also stressed to them that sometimes you just need to adapt to situations and make the best of a bad situation.

“I think it’s so easy to get caught up in everything that’s going on,” said Gallagher. “We just took the approach that you have to play with the hand you’ve been dealt and did what we could to have some fun and spend time together.”

Klemick and Sisonick will be co-captains for the upcoming season and were chosen by Gallagher because of their ability to serve as leaders on and off the court. She has found that both players will speak up when necessary and can handle the role.

Gallagher has some young players who will be relied upon to take up bigger roles this season as the team looks to take the next step in improving.

“I think that Steph and Marah will do well as co-captains since they both have the ability to lead with their play on the court and can show the younger players how you go about playing at the varsity level,” said Gallagher. “Marah is a workhorse for the team, and she shows her emotions, which is good, and it lets the other players see how seriously she takes her role with the team.”

With the season schedule affected by COVID, Emmaus will play back-to-back games only against teams within their division, facing Dieruff, Allen, Central Catholic, Whitehall and Parkland in that order.

The season will open at Dieruff on Friday, January 15 with the first home game coming on January 19, also against the Lady Huskies.