JEFFERSON TWP — It was a good way to start the year for the injury-depleted and thin Knoch boys basketball team.

The Knights roared out to a big early lead, took an 18-3 advantage into the second quarter and cruised to a 59-44 win over non-section rival Deer Lakes to begin 2018 in style.

“We came out shooting the ball well,” said Knoch coach Ron McNabb. “I was a little concerned because we're going through some injuries. We started three sophomores and I thought they stepped up.”

Jesse Fesel, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, is out with an ankle injury.

Sophomore forwards Brady McKee (back) and Cole Lassinger (broken hand) also missed the game.

“Those guys eat up a lot of minutes for us,” McNabb said. “So, we had to change the way we play.”

McNabb doesn't know how long that trio will be out. Against Deer Lakes, he employed a small, guard-centric lineup.

And they delivered.

“We battled on the boards,” McNabb said. “We were smaller than them tonight, but I liked the way we played with passion and tenacity.”

And good shooting — well, great shooting — didn't hurt.

Knoch shot 58 percent from the field and were a scintillating 10-of-11 from 3-point range.

Julian Sanks hit all four of his 3-point attempts. Jared Schrecengost was 3-of-4. Scott Fraser, Jake Schiedt and Adam Bajuszik also buried 3s.

“The defense kind of sagged off of us all night,” said Sanks, who led all scorers with 20 points. “We had four guards out there with Jesse out and we all can shoot. We just let it fly tonight and it worked out.”

Knoch (5-5) hit four of its 3-pointers in the first quarter in building a 14-3 lead.

That advantage swelled to 18-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The two teams played even after that, but the hole was dug and the Lancers (6-4) couldn't crawl out of it.

“Jake Schiedt did a good job keeping us under control and getting us in our spots,” McNabb said. “Julian, of course, made some big shots.”

Schrecengost added 14 for the Knights.

Knoch's only post presence, Ben Lucas, was also a key to the win.

He scored eight points, but battled inside against the bigger Deer Lakes forwards.

“Ben Lucas — he's undersized and we put him in the pivot and he's a bulldog,” McNabb said. “I know he's someone who's going to give me 32 hard minutes.”

Knoch will play section-leader Moon Friday in the first big test of 2018.

“These guys are like a sponge,” McNabb said. “I know we're going to show up (Thursday) and have a good practice and be ready for Moon on Friday.”

DEER LAKES 44

Jake Kelly 4-8 3-4 11, Brad Perrotte 2-5 3-6 8, Jared Colton 0-5 1-2 1, Josh Solomon 3-10 0-0 8, Dan Hutchinson 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Noble 2-3 1-2 7, Shane Yarussi 1-1 0-0 2, Zac Herbinko 0-0 0-0 0, Colin Kadlick 1-2 1-2 3, Jack Hollibaugh 1-5 0-0 2, Marc Vrane 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 15-41 9-16 44.

KNOCH 59

Ben Lucas 2-3 4-7 8, Scott Fraser 2-5 0-1 5, Julian Sanks 8-11 0-0 20, Jared Schrecengost 5-11 1-2 14, Jake Schiedt 2-4 0-0 5, Adam Bajuszik 2-2 2-2 7. Totals: 21-36 7-12 59.

Deer Lakes 3 14 11 16 — 44

Knoch18 12 13 16 — 59

3-point goals: Deer Lakes 5 (Perrotte, Solomon 2, Noble 2); Knoch 10 (Fraser, Sanks 4, Shrecengost 3, Schiedt, Bajuszik)

Friday: Knoch at Moon