The Emmaus High School girls basketball team had one of its best regular seasons in program history, going 21-1 and ending on a 14-game win streak. The Hornets continued their surge into the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Tournament and won three consecutive games to win their first title since the 2002-03 season.

But the winning ways ended in the District 11 6A Tournament. After a first-round win over Northampton, Emmaus dropped back-to-back games to Parkland and Liberty in the semifinals and consolation game, respectively. The loss in the consolation game ends the Hornets’ season.

They led Liberty 13-11 after the opening quarter, but was outscored in each of the next three quarters and had their season end by falling 59-45 to the Hurricanes last Friday night at Whitehall High School.

“We played some really good teams,” said Hornet head coach Avon Mack. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter how good you may be playing, this time of year, with the games so big every other team is also good and wants it just as bad as you do.”

Sylvia Sokolofski finished with a team-high 14 points. Both Gabby DeVita and Cassie Doemling tallied six points and each of Sophie Laird and Kayla Snyder recorded five points.

After Snyder hit a 3-pointer 35 seconds into the third quarter to give the Hornets a 27-26 lead, the Hurricanes tallied back-to-back baskets to make it a three-point advantage.

Sokolofski netted a basket with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter to trim Liberty’s lead to 41-38. But the Hurricanes answered with a 6-0 run. Following a 1-for-2 trip at the free-throw line for Sierra Stevens cut Liberty’s lead to 53-45 with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes closed out the game with six consecutive points.

Emmaus entered the district tournament riding a ton of momentum as it won the program’s first conference title in 18 years.

“Winning EPCs meant a lot to this team because of the work they put in day in and day out,” said Mack. “It was one of our goals, so it’s very satisfying to accomplish something you set out to achieve from the beginning. Also, doing something that hasn’t been done in 18 years was also a special feat for this group.”