For the first time since 2007, the Emmaus High School girls basketball team was playing a game in the PIAA State Tournament.

The Hornets won two games in the District 11 6A Tournament to qualify for states and were matched up against District 1’s fourth-place team in North Penn.

The Hornets had to play on the Knights’ home floor last Friday night and the memorable 2023-24 season came to an end as they fell 48-34.

Emmaus finished its campaign with a 17-12 overall record, ending the year by winning 12 of their last 16 games, and North Penn improved to 24-5.

The Hornets held right in there with the Knights through the first quarter, as they trailed 14-10, but then Caleigh Sperling of North Penn and their defense began to give Emmaus fits. Sperling had a game-high 22 points and the Green Hornets’ offense struggled making baskets, ending the night 13-for-36 (36 percent), while also committing 14 turnovers.

The Knights outscored Emmaus 10-4 in the second quarter to go up by double digits (24-14) at halftime. North Penn kept its lead at double figures the rest of the way.

Mya Cooper and Cassie Doemling both led Emmaus with nine points, Cooper also going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. Gabby DeVita recorded five points, Kayla Snyder netted four points and Taylor Griffith added three points, with the trio also each hitting one 3-pointer. Sofie Laird and Sylvia Sokolofski both contributed two points to round out the scoring.

Cooper, Griffith, Julia Adams and Lexi Krum all played their final games in green and gold and will graduate, but they left their marks on the program.