For just the second time during the early portions of the 2022-23 regular season, the Emmaus High School boys basketball team was involved in a close game in the waning seconds. The Green Hornets dropped their season opener by two points, 61-59, against Methacton on Dec. 2, but since then, had won six games in-a-row, all by double-digits.

In its latest game, Emmaus beat Freedom 66-65. Will Barber converted two free throws with just nine seconds to play and then the defense held firm to secure the overtime win last Tuesday night on the road in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference game.

The victory was the seventh in a row for the Green Hornets (7-1 overall, 4-0 EPC), who also remained unbeaten in conference play and handed the Patriots (5-3, 4-1) their first defeat in the league. Emmaus trailed by one point (18-17) after the first quarter and three points following both the second (30-27) and third quarters (47-44). They outscored Freedom 16-13 in the fourth quarter to force the overtime period.

Barber was one of three Emmaus players to finish with 15 points, a team high. He was joined by Dylan Darville and Jake Fotta, also had 15. A fourth Green Hornets also ended the night in double figures in scoring as Jametric Harris added 13 points. Freedom’s Nick Ellis recorded a game-high 23 points and Aaron Levy chipped in 20.

Both teams shot the ball well, connecting on eight 3-pointers each. Chase Muckey tallied eight points for the Green Hornets.

Emmaus was scheduled to play East Stroudsburg South in EPC play last Thursday just before Christmas, but the game was postponed.

The Green Hornets are back in action this Thursday when they travel to take on Abington Heights in a nonconference game. The Comets are currently undefeated at 5-0.