Lessons learned in a loss
JEFFERSON TWP — It goes into the books as a defeat, but Chris Andreassi saw many positives in of his team's latest game.
The Knoch boys basketball coach watched his squad's 29-20 fourth-quarter lead dissolve before the Knights lost a 52-41, overtime decision to Upper St. Clair Tuesday night.
USC (2-1) scored the first seven points in overtime and Knoch never cut its deficit to fewer than five after that.
The Panthers are a Quad A team with three starters back from last year's playoff squad.
"We don't look at how many letters are next to a team's name," Andreassi said. "It really doesn't make a difference.
"The positives I'm taking from this game: how well we played defensively and the fact that we walked off the court tonight knowing we should have won. We took care of the basketball and took good shots most of the night."
One exception to that came early in the fourth quarter when the Panthers, down by nine, threw a press defense at the Knights.
Knoch turned the ball over eight times in the period as USC tied the game at 35 when Steve Limberiou hit a 3-pointer with 1:03 left.
The Knights' Andrew Wirtz, who led all scorers with 15 points, made two free throws for a brief 37-35 edge before Limberiou's basket tied it again with 34 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Panthers regained possession on a turnover but were unable to get a shot to fall before overtime.
After outscoring the Knights 17-8 in the fourth period, USC grabbed the momentum.
"We don't use the press defense much, but we wanted to change the tempo of the game," said Panthers coach Danny Holzer. "Knoch's kids played their tails off and I'm proud of our guys for fighting and pulling out this win."
Knoch's defense, which has given up just 128 points in three games for a 42.6 average. held the Panthers to nine of 34 shooting from the field in the first three quarters.
"Upper St. Clair is a very good team, but we just played good man-to-man defense," said Andreassi. "It was good fundamental basketball."
Chris Cetnar contributed 11 points for the Knights (2-1) while Jordan Albert led USC with 12 points, including eight in the pivotal fourth quarter.
UPPER ST. CLAIR 52Jordan Albert 6 0-2 12, Steve Limberiou 3 2-4 9, Dave Steen 3 2-4 10, Brett McCormick 2 4-6 8, Garrett Del Re 3 0-2 6, Mike Dietrick 2 0-0 4, Christian Beck 1 1-1 3, Mike Worthy 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 20 9-19 52.
KNOCH 41Nathan Junk 2 1-1 5, Corey Miller 1 2-2 4, Andrew Wirtz 4 4-4 15, Chris Cetnar 4 2-3 11, Robert Zanella 2 0-4 4, Adam Seger 0 2-2 2, Jake McTighe 0 0-0 0, Kevin Wood 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 13 11-16 41.
Upper St. Clair 8 8 4 17 15—52Knoch 7 13 9 8 4—413-point goals: Upper St. Clair 3 (Steen 2, Limberiou); Knoch 4 (Wirtz 3, Cetnar).
Today: Knoch at Leechburg
