With Emmaus coach Kelsey Gallagher in her fourth season as the coach of the girls basketball team, this season’s seniors were the first group of players who have played their entire high school career under her leadership. Gallagher has put to rest a revolving door of coaches and brought stability to the program.

One of her most consistent players has been senior Stephanie Klemick, who achieved a first for Gallagher recently when she committed to playing college basketball at Marywood University in Scranton, making Klemick the first player under Gallagher to get a basketball scholarship.

“She [Gallagher] has helped me so much and I’m glad that she has been here the whole time,” said Klemick of Gallagher’s influence on her game. “It’s been good to not have different coaches and new systems over the last four years. She’s really worked with us and she’s helped me to get much better.”

Klemick has averaged seven points per game this season and has bought into Gallagher’s system that stresses defense first. The emphasis on defense has helped Emmaus to change the atmosphere around the program by leading to more wins and Klemick believes that it’s working well for the team.

“We’re one win away from making districts and we haven’t done that since I’ve been playing, so something is obviously working,” said Klemick. “We work hard to shut down the other team offensively and we’ve done a good job of that and for me, it’s made me a better all-around player because I’m not focusing on just offense.”

While Klemick credits Gallagher with helping her career, Gallagher credits Klemick for working on her game and doing the things that are necessary to get colleges to consider her.

“I’m so proud of her, because she puts in the work and it’s all paid off for her,” said Gallagher of Klemick, who serves as one of two team captains. “I think it rubs off on the other players as well, because they see that if you put in the work in practice and then transfer it to the games, good things can happen both for the team and for you as an individual.”

Klemick is going to major in graphic design at Marywood and play basketball. As for how she chose Marywood, Klemick found the school to be the right fit for her in many ways.

“When I visited, I loved the campus and the whole school itself and then when I met the coach and saw the basketball program, I knew that was the place for me to go to college,” said Klemick with a big smile. “I love the coach [Jennifer Carleton]. She was so nice and as soon as I met her, it kind of sealed the deal.”

As a senior, qualifying for districts has become a goal for Klemick as she looks to go out on a high note.

“That would be great to play in districts, not just for me, but for all of the girls,” said Klemick. “We’ve worked really hard, and coach kept telling us that if we did that, eventually we would see the benefits and making districts is what we want.

“Overall, I think the team is doing well and there are a lot of young players who can help down the road, so I think the future is bright.”