Sports channels have created a genre of viewing known as the Instant Classic, and that designation could have easily applied to Friday's boys basketball game between Whitehall and Emmaus.

It had all the elements necessary for it to slip into classic status: a pair of clutch threes by each team with less than a minute left; a controversial no-call; students charging the court that resulted in a technical foul, and a last-second shot at the basket as the buzzer sounded.

For Whitehall head coach Jeff Jones, a different outcome would have made it a fantastic instant classic, but even with his team falling to the Hornets, 62-61, he realized what those in attendance had witnessed.

"It was a hell of a high school basketball game," said Jones. "I think both teams are pretty good teams, and I think both teams played really hard.

"Both teams made big shots, and both teams made big plays."

It was the Zephs first league loss this season, placing them in a logjam with three other Lehigh Valley Conference teams with one loss.

While the ending is what set it down the path to Classicville, it had a number of moments that earmarked it as a special contest.

The Zephs trailed throughout much of the game, briefly nabbing the lead 38-36 on a Chad Rex lay-up early in the third quarter off a nice outlet pass from Brett Radocha.

That lead was short lived, however, as the Hornets seized control of the boards and began running, going up one when David Kachelries hit a three-pointer. They quickly stretched that lead to nine points, 49-40.

But Whitehall wouldn't go away. Saquon Barkley threaded the needle to a cutting Aaron Keglovits under the basket for two, and then Rex hit a jumper and Matt Melosky converted an offensive rebound for two, helping the Zephs climb closer.

The Hornets answered the Zephs charge, scoring on jumpers by Nate Feiertag and Kachelries to keep the Zephs at bay.

Radocha then hit from beyond the arc, cutting the lead 57-53 with two minutes left to play.

That's when Melosky went to work. Melosky figured prominently down the stretch, scoring six of his eight points in the last two minutes. He whittled their lead to two, 57-55.

The ability to get back into a game has been a byproduct of their tenacity.

"We just kept pushing ourselves," said Melosky. "We kept fighting. We're always a fighting team, especially toward the end.

"We go for the quick baskets, the transition baskets, and we just try to take advantage of what they give us."

Melosky said this team stays together no matter if they're up or down, and that's allowed them to compile an 8-3 record this season.

"We just stick together," said Melosky. "In other years we may have fallen apart, but this year we're fighting back, like at Liberty. I think we're going to be better this year."

After a costly turnover by Emmaus, the Zephs got the ball with 1:01 left, and then took the lead when Keglovits got open at the top of the circle and drilled a three.

Following Keglovits trey to put the Zephs up by one, 60-59, Emmaus had the ball with 22 seconds left. They emerged from their timeout, looking to tie or take the lead. Whitehall's strategy, according to head coach Jeff Jones, was to foul the Hornets since they still had two team fouls in their pocket.

They executed that strategy as planned when Bonshak fouled David Kachelries, taking time off the clock. The same scenario played out as soon as the Hornets inbounded the ball, but a grab by Bonshak on Kachelries didn't draw a whistle. The freshman point guard found Joey Nicolini in the corner who promptly sank the three.

His three-pointer sent the crowd into pandemonium, resulting in a technical foul after students stormed the court.

The chaos at the end also meant the clock had to be reset, and after conferring at midcourt, .08 was put back on. That resulting technical put Keglovits on the line with a chance to tie the game. He sank one of two, drawing them within one. That set up the final play as Jacob Meyers inbounded the ball to Melosky who quickly whirled and shot.

"I couldn't do much there at the end," said Melosky. "I just had to let it go."

The Zephs did "everything right," said Jones and still lost the game. He said it was difficult to tell his players that they executed the game plan perfectly down the stretch but still walked off the court with an L.

"That's a little bit frustrating," said Jones.

As for the getting the opportunity to win the game after being down in the second half by as many as nine, speaks volumes about this team.

"I thought it was a courageous effort on our part," said Jones. "We got down … and we didn't quit. We played really well as a team."

Radocha led the Zephs in scoring again, finishing with 17 points. Keglovits knocked down 15, while Rex equaled that with 15 as well. Additionally, Meyers finished with four and Barkley had two.