The Emmaus High School boys basketball team had a sluggish second half Saturday, allowing 52 points after trailing by just three (26-23) at halftime. Red Lion, District 3’s third-place team, outscored the Hornets 52-42 after intermission to win the PIAA 6A State First Round game 78-65 last Saturday afternoon at Red Lion High School.

Emmaus jumped in front early, leading 13-11 after the first quarter, but Red Lion responded with a 15-10 second quarter to go on top 26-23 at halftime.

The game turned in the Lions’ favor in the third stanza as they outscored the Hornets 25-15 to go up by double figures. The teams were even in the fourth quarter, both scoring 25 points each, but Emmaus could not cut into its deficit.

Jametric Harris finished with a team-best 23 points. Jack Csensits recorded 14 points and Will Barber tallied 12 points. Matt Volquez netted five points. Aidan Santos, Owen Hafner and Mike Rooney all contributed three points and Rafael Terrero rounded out the scoring with two points.

Emmaus finished its 2023-24 season by winning 20 games and competing in states for the second straight year. The Hornets were also runners-up in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and won two games during the District 11 6A Tournament. The Green Hornets will graduate a large group in nine seniors, including Barber, Harris, Teague McCourt, Volquez, Aidan and Pacey Santos, Jack Curley-Katrishen, Dan Rohlsen and Lawson Vasquez.