JEFFERSON TWP — As each starter came off the floor, he gave his coach, Les Shoop, a hug.

Minutes later, as the final seconds ticked off the clock at the end of a convincing 69-45 win by the Knoch High School boys basketball team over Kittanning, fans chanted "Mr. Shoop! Mr. Shoop!" and confetti flew.

On a snowy Friday night at Knoch, Les definitely was more.

He notched career win No. 500 and was presented the game ball by his two sons, athletic director Josh and senior point guard Jordan.

"He's a heck of a coach and a great father," Josh Shoop said as he handed the basketball to his father.

Whether or not Les Shoop would get his 500th win was a forgone conclusion by halftime. His Knights erupted for 41 first-half points and held an 18-point lead at the break.

That margin ballooned to as many as 37 by the end of the third quarter, allowing Shoop plenty of time to think about his mark in history.

"In passing, I thought about it," Les Shoop said. "You know what? It really mattered to the kids. That's the type of special kids they are. I think they are going to remember when I won my 500th game, maybe even more than I will."

Shoop has prowled the bench at Punxsutawney and then at Knoch for 37 years. He needs just 12 more wins to get 300 with the Knights.

But on Friday, 500 was the only number on everyone's mind.

T-shirts were made commemorating the milestone. The shirts had a drawing of Shoop with "500 wins" written under his likeness.

T-shirts celebrating the coach have long been a staple at Knoch. In seasons past, shirts that said "Curly's Army" were a hot commodity.

That was back when Shoop had curly hair.

"Yeah, then I get my hair straightened," said Shoop, now sporting straight locks. "It's a great crowd. Year in and year out, they are terrific."

Rob Briggs paced Knoch (5-1, 1-0) with 21 points in the win. Andrew Snyder led Kittanning (2-5, 0-1) with 23 points. He scored 11 of the Wildcats' first 13 points.

Jordan Shoop scored 19 points as the Knights turned a 20-15 advantage late in the first quarter into a 64-27 lead at the end of three.

"We're clicking," Jordan Shoop said. "This is by far the most unselfish and best team chemistry I've played with. Nobody on this team is selfish. You won't hear anyone on this team complaining.

"My dad talks about how this may be one of his favorite teams ever. I'm glad."

It's fitting that one of Les Shoop's favorite teams will be his last.

The coach plans to retire after this season.

It was a decision that he said wasn't difficult to make.

"I've been going through gym doors for 50 years," Shoop said. "Next year, I'll go through them when I want to.

"You have to step away sometime. It's a young man's game. It's taking up more time. I want a little more time for myself," he added.

Shoop's players didn't want to leave any doubt that No. 500 would come Friday night.

All day in the school, the players talked about getting it out of the way as quickly and as decisively as possible.

"We really wanted it," Jordan Shoop said. "Everybody wanted it bad."

Jordan Shoop has been playing for his father on the varsity team since his freshman season. In the Shoop household, basketball is king.

"You eat, sleep and breathe basketball at our house," Jordan Shoop said. "We have a sign that says, 'We interrupt this marriage to bring you basketball.'"

Les Shoop hasn't thought about what life will be like next season without a team to coach.

There will be no more stomping on the sideline. No more yelling instructions with his big, booming voice.

It will be weird, he said. What will he do?

"I don't know," he said. "It'll be interesting to find out."

KITTANNING 45Andrew Snyder 10-20 1-2 23, Zach Geyer 0-0 0-0 0, Lee Sasala 1-3 0-0 2, Derek Taylor 1-5 0-0 2, Jared Bowser 4-11 2-6 10, Josh Grafton 1-1 0-0 2, Brian Arble 3-6 0-2 6. Totals: 20-46 3-10 45

KNOCH 69Scott Muska 3-4 1-1 9, Dan Pickard 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Shoop 9-15 1-2 19, Paul Hancheck 0-2 0-0 0, Justin Thompson 1-2 0-0 2, Joel Berger 0-1 0-0 0, Logan Baker 1-3 0-0 2, Ben Hutterer 0-0 0-0 0, D'Ante Natili 0-0 1-4 1, Takanori Koroki 0-0 0-0 0, Bill Elliott 4-6 1-2 11, Rob Briggs 9-15 1-3 21, Alex Whisler 1-4 1-2 4. Totals: 28-54 6-14 69

3-point goals: Snyder 2, Muska 2, Elliott 2, Briggs 2, Whisler

Tuesday: Laurel at Knoch