With the score tied at 18-18 heading into halftime, Emmaus boys basketball head coach Steve Yoder could be heard preaching defense to his team in the huddle.

The fired-up coach must have said something that got through to the Green Hornets, as they went on to outscore Phillipsburg 38-24 in the second half to take the Stellar Summer League contest by a score of 56-42 last Tuesday night at Cedar Beach Park.

Acting head coach for Emmaus’ summer league team Eric Farkas said defense was the difference in the game.

“We needed leadership,” he said. “And the two seniors we had here tonight in Matt [Kachelries] and Daryn Lewis stepped up and set the tone defensively for others to follow. That really set up our scoring nicely in the second half.”

Emmaus (4-2 overall) has several new faces on the court this summer. After the graduation of three starters, including Joey Polczynski, Jacob Scarnulis and Cam Widdoss, and key role players in Brandon Rapose and Jacob Feiertag, the Green Hornets are especially young and inexperienced in the front court.

Rising senior guards David and Matt Kachelries bring three years of varsity experience to the fold, but Yoder and Farkas are looking for some answers this summer before the winter season.

“Besides Matt and David [Kachelries], nobody really has any varsity experience,” said Farkas. “Daryn Lewis is another one of our seniors, but he has had limited time. He has stepped up and played like a senior though so far this summer.

“It’s all about just getting better.”

Josh Artis and Zach Sabol played like they were veterans, combining to score 23 points. Artis will be a junior next year and Sabol will be a sophomore.

“We told these young guys to just go out and play hard this summer, and have fun,” Farkas said. “I thought Zach set a physical tone inside, and Josh’s athleticism really showed through tonight.”

But the steadying hand, Matt Kachelries made sure his team did not slip up. His recorded 10 points, six rebounds and six assists, and when the Hornets needed a veteran presence, he gave it to them.

“It’s fun because I’ve been looking up to a lot of different players since I was a freshman, and now it’s my chance to be that guy,” said Matt Kachelries. “Our younger guys are stepping up and it’s nice to see.”