JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch boys basketball team got back to the way they want to play basketball Tuesday night.

Out of necessity and because the Knights wanted to get back in the habit.

Knoch missed its first 10 shots before rebounding for a 48-33 Section 1-AAA home win against Highlands.

The Knights (2-3, 1-1) allowed 141 points in their previous two games, losses to Hampton and Indiana.

With its performance against Highlands, Knoch dropped its average points allowed per game from 56.8 to 52.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on, our tough play and physical defense,” Knoch senior forward Matt Zanella said. “It’s a good confidence booster for us defensively and we need to keep doing that the rest of the season.”

Highlands (1-4, 0-2) missed all 16 of its 3-point attempts and shot 35 percent (15-of-43) from the field.

No player on the Golden Rams reached double figures, with Mitch Dezort scoring a team-high eight points.

Knoch coach Ron McNabb thinks the Knights took a step forward defensively.

“I hope so. Hampton and Indiana make you guard them,” McNabb said. “I just told our team I feel fortunate to get a win against those guys. I liked the way we hunkered down and guarded tonight.”

Knoch needed its defense as the Golden Rams built an 8-0 lead.

Zanella scored first for the Knights on a layup with 3 minutes, 10 seconds left in the quarter.

After Highlands’ Jordan Lineburg answered with a jumper, the Golden Rams went nearly seven minutes without scoring again.

Knoch went on a 13-0 run, highlighted by Aiden Albert banking in a 3-pointer from midcourt to cut the score to 10-9 at the first quarter buzzer.

P.J. Gourley opened the second with a layup with the Knights, putting them ahead for good with 7:02 left before halftime.

Zanella finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Highlands coach Tyler Stoczynski thought the Golden Rams had a hard time matching his presence inside.

“Zanella was very effective,” Stoczynski said. “He’s a little bigger than everybody, has good length and used that all night. We talked about making sure our positioning was good and it wasn’t good tonight.”

Knoch, which led 21-16 at halftime, opened the second half with a 9-2 run that gave its defense plenty of room to breathe.

Austin Hannes, who recorded 20 points and four assists, made a big 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 24-18, knew the offense would come around.

“We had to start making shots, driving the lane more,” Hannes said. “You have to be confident about your shots.”

Knoch salted the game away at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, making 12 of 15 attempts.

HIGHLANDS 33

Ryan Boda 3 0-0 6, Lavontae Martin 0 0-0 0, Jordan Lineburg 2 0-0 4, Mitch Dezort 3 2-2 8, Kasion Branch 3 1-2 7, Brayden Thimons 2 0-0 4, Tyler Alworth 2 0-2 4. Totals: 15 3-6 33.

KNOCH 48

Aiden Albert 2 0-1 5, Troy Hixson 0 3-4 3, Matt Zanella 7 0-0 14, Mac Christy 0 0-0 0, Austin Hannes 6 7-7 20, Jackson McKee 0 0-0, PJ Gourley 2 2-2 6, Devin Campbell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 12-14 48.

Highlands 10 6 4 13 — 33

Knoch 9 12 9 20 — 48

3-point goals: Knoch 2 (Albert, Hannes)

JV: Highlands 40-31

Friday: Knoch at Valley