How do the Freedom Patriots keep up their intensity when they have a 30-point lead by halftime?

“You just have to run your stuff, and play them like you would play Beca or Easton,” said Freedom senior Kyra Jefferson. “You want to improve with every game.”

The Patriots hosted Emmaus on Jan. 9 and scored a 53-15 victory over the Hornets.

“We kind of knew they weren’t as strong,” said Freedom senior Hailey Silfies. “I think you have to be more disciplined on offense because you don’t want to shoot the first open shot you get when you’re up by a good amount. So when you get to a game that’s close, you don’t want to be throwing up shots you might have been throwing in that game that wasn’t as intense.”

All Freedom players scored against Emmaus with Silfies leading the Patriots with 10 points. Jennifer Kokolus scored nine points, and Yasmine Herrera scored seven, including a three-pointer from way beyond the three-point arc at the buzzer to end the third quarter.

“I just saw the clock running down, and I saw that Rachel Sanchez had the ball, and she and I made eye contact, and then once I saw the clock I just turned and shot it. There was really no more time,” Herrera said. “I kind of knew it was going in. I was really excited, and then when I looked at Kyra [on the sideline], her water fell all over the floor.”

Jefferson and Corrin Gill had six points each, Brenna Ortwein scored five points, including a three-pointer, Christina Wahba had four points, and Carissa Norder, Hope Dunfee, and Sanchez scored two points each.

“We’re gelling a lot better as of now, and we’ve been playing together for awhile now, so it’s become instinct,” said Jefferson, regarding finding the open players.

The Patriots will have hosted Bethlehem Catholic on Jan. 12 before traveling to Pocono Mountain West on Jan. 19.

“We’re really excited about playing Beca,” Jefferson said. “We’ve seen them. We just have to compete and be Freedom.”