Heading into the 2016-17 boys basketball season, everyone around the Emmaus program and the Lehigh Valley as a whole, knew David and Matt Kachelries were the two players that will get the engine running for the Green Hornets.

But last Friday night, two of Emmaus’ other players that stepped into new starting roles and delivered in a 54-48 victory against Northampton at Emmaus High School.

Senior guard Daryn Lewis tallied ten points, including a jumper late in the fourth quarter that solidified the win for Emmaus (3-0 overall, 2-0 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference). Sophomore forward Zach Sabol, who missed all of last year due to injury, finished with 11 points and nine rebounds in his first year playing varsity.

The Green Hornets needed other players to step up and contribute on a night when the Kachelries twins combined for just 14 points.

“Those two really played well tonight,” said head coach Steve Yoder. “It’s not often that you see David and Matt [Kachelries] struggle from the field, but we know they’re not going to be on every night, so we need other players to be ready. Tonight Daryn and Zach and Josh [Artis] stepped up.”

Artis, a junior and another new starter this year, contributed nine points.

Emmaus never trailed in the game.

With the score tied at 21 midway through the second quarter, the Green Hornets scored seven of the next nine points to take a 28-23 lead into halftime.

The advantage would jump to as many as ten points in the third quarter, and the quarter ended with Emmaus ahead 40-33.

But the Kids slowly chipped away at the deficit. Leading scorer Aidan Ellwood (12 points) created a lot of the offense, and Morgan Heffelfinger (19 points) was a force in the paint, grabbing rebound after rebound after missed shots. His basket after he grabbed a missed shot off the rim put Northampton down by just one score at 43-41 with 4:42 remaining. He had eight of his team’s 15 points in the fourth quarter. But when it mattered most, Sabol held his own.

“I put in a lot of hard work in the offseason,” said Sabol. “It was tough missing last year. I wanted to get back to playing with my teammates and helping out in whatever way I can. Morgan [Heffelfinger] is a great player, and it was a real battle down low all night. I thought we both played really well.”

After two Heffelfinger free-throws brought the score to 47-45, Matt Kachelries connected for two at the line. Lewis found himself open on the baseline and drained a jumper to take the lead to 51-45 with 2:01 left, and the Hornets held on in the end.

“It was great to be able to hit that shot,” said Lewis. “Coach [Yoder] actually drew up a play, but when Zach got it he saw me cross-court and I was open. I shot it as soon as I caught it. I didn’t even think about it. It was nice to step up and hit a big shot.”

Sabol never altered in his decision to pass to Lewis in a big moment.

“Daryn is probably the hardest working player on our team,” said Sabol. “I had all the confidence in him when he took that shot.”

To be able to hold on and win a game with players not named Kachelries as the leading scorers is a good sign for this team.

“This is definitely a huge win for us,” Lewis said. “We knew they were going to come at us with everything that they had, especially after losing in their opener. It’s always nice to win at home, and it feels good to start the conference season off strong.”

Emmaus took down Pennridge the following night at Muhlenberg College 70-46. David Kachelries erupted for 31 points in the nonleague win over the Rams while Mat Kachelries tallied 13 in that game.