JEFFERSON TWP - One of Perry Traditional Academy's big men couldn't make the trip. Ryan Hollihan took care of the other one.

Knoch's 6-foot-7 senior scored 20 points, recorded 13 rebounds, blocked five shots - and got 6-6 Perry sophomore Corey Summerville in foul trouble - in leading the Knights to a 62-56 boys basketball victory Wednesday night.

The game marked the Knights' first home game of the season.

"I wanted to pump fake inside and get him (Summerville) to leave his feet so he'd foul me," Hollihan said. "I figured things would be much easier with him out of there."

He was right.

With 6-6 senior Freddie Morgan staying home for disciplinary reasons, Summerville was the Commodores' lone big man. When he picked up his fourth foul just 37 seconds into the second half, Knoch (5-1) took control inside.

"Ryan dominated in there once that kid went to the bench," Knoch coach Les Shoop said.

"We had to go to a smaller, quicker lineup tonight, and our game is driving to the basket," Perry coach Marco Corona said. "Their big kid made us alter shots."

The game was tied at 31 at halftime as the lead changed hands four times and was tied on four occasions during the first two quarters.

Knoch took the lead for good at 34-31 on the play that resulted in Summerville's fourth foul - a three-point play by Hollihan off an offensive rebound.

Ryan Ziacik sank a 3-pointer - his fourth of the game - to give the Knights a 50-42 lead on their first possession of the fourth quarter.

Ziacik's other three treys either tied the game or gave Knoch the lead.

"When Ryan's on it, he's on it," Shoop said. "He knocked down some big shots."

The Knights' lead peaked at 60-50 when Hollihan passed along the baseline to Bill Elliott, who put in the easy layup with 1:04 remaining.

Knoch won despite hitting just 21 of 61 shots from the floor. The Knights were 15 of 19 from the foul line, however. Hollihan drained all eight of his free throws.

"I knew I had to have a good game because of how much they like to attack the basket," Hollihan said.

Ziacik had 16 points and six rebounds for Knoch. Scott Muska added 10 points, all in the second half.

Point guard Jordan Shoop contributed seven points and six rebounds.

"Jordan was a little passive tonight offensively, but he got the other guys their shots, and that's what a point guard does," Shoop said.

Brian Wilson and Warren Bryant had 15 points each for Perry (2-3). Summerville had nine points and nine rebounds, and Gary Nolen had 10 points and seven boards for the Commodores.

Corona replaced Chuck Franklin, Perry's coach for 22 years, at the helm of the two-time Pittsburgh City League champions.

"We're a young team that's going to get better," Corona said. "We expect to challenge for the league title again."

PERRY 56

Brian Wilson 6-14 2-4 15, Nate Nixon 2-13 0-0 4, Weston White 1-4 1-1 3, Warren Bryant 4-9 5-7 15, Justin Wisnick 0-0 0-0 0, Gary Nolen 4-10 1-2 10, Maurice Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Corey Summerville 4-6 1-1 9. Totals: 21-57 10-15 56

KNOCH 62

Scott Muska 4-11 2-2 10, Pawel Brzozowski 0-0 2-4 2, Jordan Shoop 2-6 2-4 7, Ryan Ziacik 6-11 0-0 16, Tim Hickey 0-1 0-0 0, Curtis Compton 0-2 0-0 0, Bill Elliott 2-6 1-1 5, Eric Czech 1-4 0-0 2, Ryan Hollihan 6-11 8-8 20. Totals: 21-61 15-19 62

3-point goals: Wilson, Bryant 2, Nolen; Shoop, Ziacik 4

JV: Knoch, 60-50 (Rob Briggs 25, Alex Whisler 15)

Tuesday: Knoch @ Hampton