BUFFALO TWP — Scintillating starts have defined the Knoch girls basketball team so far this season.

The Knights wasted no time again asserting themselves Monday night at Freeport Middle School.

Knoch (3-0, 3-0) started the game on an 8-0 run, extended that lead to 21-5 at one point and led 39-12 at the break on the way to a 54-27 win.

“That's how we want to play all the time this season,” said senior guard Nevaeh Ewing. “Just come out as hard as we can.”

Knoch led 29-4 over Deer Lakes in the first quarter Thursday.

In the season opener, the Knights jumped out to a 20-4 lead after the first quarter against Highlands.

Knoch has never trailed this season so far.

It was even more important, said Knoch coach Chris Andreassi, to get out to a quick start against rival Freeport (1-1, 1-1) on the road.

“They play good defense always,” Andreassi said of Freeport. “And they have shooters. We talked about that for a couple of practices. We need to get off to a fast start. If they knock down a couple shots and get us off our rhythm, we could be in for a long night.”

Instead the long night belonged to Freeport.

The Yellowjackets didn't score out of a half-court offense until the third quarter.

Knoch also had eight players hit at least one field goal in the first half.

Megan Vasas led the Knights with 12 points — 10 in the first half.

“Megan's not the tallest post in the world, but you can see she plays big and she plays tall,” Andreassi said. “She's a great athlete — great soccer player. She has great feet and she can run. We emphasized to her she has to be the first one down the floor.”

Nina Shaw added 11, and also showed off her dribbling and passing ability all night.

There's no doubt Shaw, just a sophomore, is the catalyst of Knoch's offense.

“She's starting to take pride in her work defensively,” Andreassi said. “It's important to her.”

What's important to Freeport now is getting back on track.

Yellowjackets' coach Fred Soilis spent a lot of time after the game addressing his team.

“I told them at the beginning of season, with the way this season is, we can just roll the ball out and have pick-up play and play that way, or we can get down to the nitty-gritty and play the type of basketball we have been developing here,” Soilis said. “I told them with the way the practices have been structured, I don't think we've been getting the effort we want to see in the game.”

Melaina DeZort led Freeport with 14 points — eight coming in the final quarter.

“The playoffs start Feb. 27,” Soilis said. “I asked them, 'What do you guys want to do?' I'm not going to sit here and be mad at them and yell and make them run tomorrow — that might be counterproductive. We're 1-1. The season isn't over.”

KNOCH 54Hattie McGraw 1-5 0-0 3, Nevaeh Ewing 2-9 0-0 4, Nina Shaw 3-15 3-3 11, Madilyn Boyer 3-8 1-1 7, Megan Vasas 5-6 2-3 12, CeCe Kosecki 1-3 0-0 2, Naturelle Ewing 2-3 0-0 6, Mackenzie McGraw 2-4 0-0 4, Paige Rodgers 0-1 0-0 0, Jess Burgard 1-2 0-0 2, Lily Hawk 1-1 1-1 3. Totals: 21-57 7-8 54.

FREEPORT 27Natalie Volek 1-4 0-1 2, Grace Soilis 2-9 0-1 4, Melaina DeZort 4-11 6-6 14, Leah Hartman 0-2 1-2 1, Abby DeJidas 1-2 1-2 3, Josie Russo 0-2 0-0 0, Grace Beach 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 9-35 8-12 27.Knoch 21 18 12 3 — 54Freeport7 5 7 8 — 273-point goals: Knoch 5 (H. McGraw, Shaw 2, Nat. Ewing 2); Freeport 1 (A. Soilis)JV: Knoch 48-25Thursday: Knoch at Deer LakesMonday: Freeport at Deer Lakes