The Emmaus High School girls basketball team had an improved season last year. The Green Hornets finished last season 14-11 overall and 10-6 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference before winning a postseason game in the conference tournament.

Head coach Kelsey Gallagher has the majority of her starting lineup from last season back this year, including a trio she expects to lead the team.

“We return four starters from last season’s 14-11 team,” said Gallagher. “Gabby DeVita, Taylor Griffith and Mya Cooper will lead us this season. We have four juniors on our roster this year and as a whole they have worked really hard this past offseason, and I’m expecting for them to make an impact on this upcoming season.”

Freshman Kayla Snyder is a newcomer that Gallagher expects to step right in and contribute.

“Kayla has played varsity all summer and fall with us, and she has really done a nice job of showing her all-around game and impact that she has on the floor,” Gallagher said. “Losing Paige Inman to graduation, Kayla will be our key ballhandler this season, but she is also a player that is capable of scoring anywhere on the floor.”

There will be plenty of strengths to this team with their experience. Defense is what Gallagher believes will be at the forefront.

“Our intensity on defense this season will be a strength of ours,” said Gallagher. “Defense has always been a focus for our program, and we truly believe great things happen when we’re clicking on defense. Areas for improvement will be our overall discipline on both offense and defense. It’s easy to get distracted and listen to the noise outside but if we can dial in and remain disciplined, I think this could be our best year yet.”

Emmaus opens up its 2023-24 campaign at home against Wilson in a non-conference game this Saturday. Conference competition begins the following Wednesday night against Northampton.

“We have 13 really good kids on our varsity roster that compete every day to not only make themselves better, but to push one another,” Gallagher said. “On any given night we might have a different lineup to start or finish the game and similar to last season, I think the scoring will be pretty balance with how well we’ve been sharing the ball and running the floor in transition. Overall, we’re excited to get started.”