The Emmaus High School boys basketball team opened the 2023-24 regular season as champions of the Wilkes-Barre Tip Off Tournament. The Green Hornets won two games over two days to claim the title.

Emmaus defeated Holy Redeemer in the opening game last Friday night, 49-29. The Green Hornets then took down Mid Valley 60-48 in the championship game the following afternoon.

Against the Royals, Emmaus started fast out of the gate and scored 15 of the game’s first 19 points in the opening quarter and then outscored them 13-6 in the second stanza to take a 28-10 lead at halftime.

Holy Redeemer woke up following intermission and had a stronger third quarter, taking a 16-7 advantage to cut its deficit to just single digits at 35-26 heading into the fourth, but Emmaus put on another run, outscoring them 14-3 for the victory.

The Hornets’ Will Barber finished with a game-high 13 points and Mike Rooney had nine points, connecting on a team-high three 3-pointers. Jametric Harris, Rafael Terrero and Jack Csensits all tallied six points and Teague McCourt recorded five.

In the title game, it was all Barber. The senior took the game in his own hands and dropped a career-best 33 points on his way to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and helping his team hoist the trophy. Harris, who finished with five points, was also named to the All-Tournament team. Csensits added eight points.

The Green Hornets had a tougher go of it in the final. They led 12-7 after the opening quarter, but extended the advantage to 28-20 at halftime and to double digits in the third quarter.

Emmaus begins play in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference on Wednesday night at Northampton. The Green Hornets are then at Nazareth on Friday night before having their home opener on Saturday against Abington Heights in nonconference action. The first home EPC game is set for next Tuesday night against Allen.