Her name can terrorize public address announcers and play-by-play broadcasters long before tipoff.

But that’s nothing compared to what her game does to opposing defenses once action begins.

For the past four years, Emma Kuczynski has caused nightmares for anyone playing the Tamaqua girls basketball team - and also for a lot of people who have had to pronounce her last name.

“Over the years, I think I’ve heard every possible pronunciation of my name you can think of,” laughed Kuczynski. “I’d have teammates tell me to go over and tell them the right way to pronounce it, but I never did. I’d just let it go. It was just something to laugh about.”

According to Tamaqua coach Erika Davis, that was typical for Kuczynski.

“Emma is so laid back when she’s not on the court,” Davis said. “Nothing bothers her. Nothing gets her too excited.

“She might be the most low key person I know ... until the game starts. Then it’s an entirely different Emma.”

The difference is like night and day.

“Most people who only know me from what they see on the basketball court would probably be surprised,” Kuczynski said. “I’m a pretty relaxed person. I like joking around and I try not to take things too seriously.

“But in the blink of an eye, that changes when I step on the court. I become extremely intense and very competitive. I’m a totally different person.”

No one has to tell that to Tamaqua’s opponents.

Kuczynski recently capped an incredible four-year run with the Raiders by saving her best season for last.

Kuczynski led Tamaqua in virtually every statistical category this past season, including scoring (23.4 points per game), rebounds (10.9 rpg), assists (4.4 apg), three-pointers (33), free throws made (116), steals (4.5 spg), and blocked shots (16).

Her ability to impact games in a myriad ways earned Kuczynski the 2019-20 Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.

“Emma is a very special player,” said Davis. “Not only does she have outstanding skills and a great work ethic, but she has turned into a great team leader as well.

“Early in her career, she led by her actions. But as she has grown and gained more and more confidence in herself, she has become someone who leads with her words as well as her play on the court. This past season, she took both of those things to a new level.”

In 25 games this season, Kuczynski scored 585 points while recording 15 double-doubles and two triple-doubles.

“I played AAU ball for the first time ever this past summer,” said Kuczynski. “I played with a team in the Lehigh Valley that was made up of a lot of really talented girls from the Bethlehem and Allentown areas. I think playing with that team really helped me improve my game and my confidence.”

But as much fun and success as she had with a new group of teammates over the summer, Kuczynski said what made her senior year so much fun was playing one final season with a group of classmates that have been together for most of their basketball lives.

“We had six seniors on this year’s team, and we have all been playing together since at least middle school, and some of us even before that,” said Kuczynski. “It’s been so much fun sharing the successes we have had, and even the disappointments we have had with all of them.

“We all wanted to win a championship this year, but even though that didn’t happen, I’m happy with everything we accomplished the last four seasons. It’s been a great experience.”

A two-time Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State team selection, Kuczynski ended her Raider career with 2,010 points. She is third on the all-time Tamaqua girls basketball scoring list behind only her coach Erika (Barron) Davis (2,317 points) and Cindy Miller (2,155 points). Kuczynski is also one of just nine girls basketball players in Times News area history to top the 2,000-point mark.

Those accomplishments helped pave the way for the next step on her basketball journey. In the fall, Kuczynski will attend Jefferson University in Philadelphia and play for the NCAA Division 2 Rams.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity, and I can’t wait to get on campus and start playing with all my new teammates,” said Kuczynski.

With her skill set and work ethic, there’s a good chance it won’t take Kuczynski long to make a name for herself at Jefferson - even if it takes a little while for her new teammates to learn how to pronounce it.