Sophomore forward Zach Sabol has come a long way in a year. He missed all of the 2015-16 season due to injury, and lost a year of valuable experience. But after not being able to play competitive basketball for a year, Sabol has looked like he hasn’t forgotten how to play the game.

Sabol, who has multiple double-doubles this season, added another one last Friday night by scoring a team-high and career-high 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in leading Emmaus (11-1 overall, 8-0 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) to a 58-34 win over East Stroudsburg South.

The smaller Cavaliers (6-6 overall, 2-6 EPC) did not have an answer for the 6-foot-8 forward, who had a field day in the post. He was not in the starting lineup for the first time all season, but still made an immediate impact on the game.

“My teammates always set me up for good shots,” said Sabol. “They make it easy for me to score out there. We work hard at practice and it has been transitioning into the game situations.”

Head coach Steve Yoder is happy to have him back healthy, and playing so well, so early.

“It’s nice to see him do so well,” said Yoder. “Everybody loves the big fella. He always has a smile on his face, and he’s very coachable. He’s continuing to get better, and that’s going to open up things down the line for our guards as well.”

David and Matt Kachelries struggled from the field, combining for just 11 points on four field goals in the first half. The Green Hornets as a team had a rocky half, and only led by two, 24-22, at halftime.

“I don’t think it was that we took this team lightly,” said Yoder. “We watched film. We respect every team we play and [Cavalier head coach] Shawn [Munford] does a great job with his team. It was just a slow start for us tonight, but once we got our rhythm we were fine.”

Emmaus got back on track on both sides of the ball in the second half. Sabol had 11 points, and senior Daryn Lewis chipped in seven points over the final 16 minutes as the Green Hornets outscored East Stroudsburg South 34-12 the remaining two quarters, including allowing just three total points in the fourth.

The defense also slowed down Cavaliers leading scorer, junior Greg Eck, who led all scorers with 30 points, but had just 10 in the second half.

“As a team, we just made some basic adjustments on offense and defense,” said Sabol. “We executed on both ends really well, and held them in check in the fourth quarter.”

David Kachelries (13 points) and Matt Kachelries (10 points, 7 rebounds) both finished in double figures, and both had six assists each.

The Hornets remain just one of two teams unbeaten in league play, along with Allen, the only team to beat them this season although it came in a nonleague contest.