It took five extra minutes, but the Emmaus boys basketball summer league regular season ended last Thursday night in a 49-48 loss in overtime to Southern Lehigh at Cedar Beach Park.

The defeat knocked the Green Hornets out of contention for the Stellar Summer League playoffs, which are set for the week after the Sportsfest tournament later this month,

Emmaus led for much of the first half, including 25-21 at halftime. The Spartans could not handle the forward duo of Zach Sabol and Josh Artis in the post. The two combined for 10 points and over 10 rebounds over the first 20 minutes.

“Those two have stepped up their games in a big way for us this summer,” said varsity assistant and summer league head coach Eric Farkas. “They may be young and inexperienced at the varsity level, but it hasn’t shown. I’m really looking forward to what they can do for us these next two weeks [at Stellar and Sportsfest tournaments] and during the (winter high school) season.”

The second half it was a different story.

Southern Lehigh began to hit outside shots, and slowly chipped away at the Hornets’ lead, which never saw them trailing until late in the second half.

“Summertime is more about getting players opportunities to show what they can do, instead of the overall result of the game,” said Farkas. “It is what it is sometimes. We were trying to make some subs, and it gets tough with guys not being in a rhythm. But when the guys get away from our system, we’re in a bad place.”

Having a full team to work with, Farkas was able to play what could potentially be the Hornets’ starting five next winter, and key role players off the bench come the varsity season.

David Kachelries was back in action after returning from an injury. The rising senior finished with 15 points, and his brother Matt had 10.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Farkas said. “There’s a lot of younger guys, and they’re learning to play with each other and play with our seniors Matt and David and Daryn [Lewis]. They’re going to have to learn the type of level it takes to play on varsity.”

With Emmaus in front 45-42, Southern Lehigh’s Sean Welsh, who led his team with 13 points, hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining.

With a chance at the win, the Green Hornets missed their final shot, so the game went to overtime.

In that extra frame, Emmaus struggled from the field. Matt Kachelries connected from long range, but that was the only field goal the Hornets scored as the Spartans hit two shots and held on for a one-point victory.

The Green Hornets will look for success these next two weeks in the Stellar and Sportsfest tournaments, as they normally do.

“Our goal is always to get to Sunday in these tournaments,” said Farkas. “That’s the way this program has been built, and we look to sustain that success.”

Emmaus opens Stellar “Catch A Rising Star” Tournament play Thursday at 7 p.m. against Cedar Crest High School.