Knoch's Karlee Buterbaugh (12) extends for a rebound against Freeport. The Knoch girls topped Freeport 54-33 at home Tuesday, Jan. 18. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 01/18/22

JEFFERSON TWP — It’s safe to say Knoch’s girls basketball team has hit its stride.

The group notched its ninth straight victory in entertaining Freeport at home Tuesday night. In the first game of a doubleheader, the Knights (12-2, 6-0) led wire-to-wire and went home 54-33 winners.

Junior Hattie McGraw connected on three treys in the first eight minutes, helping the hosts surge out to a 14-2 lead in the opening frame.

“We’re not afraid to shoot three-point shots and it helps when you make them,” Knoch coach Chris Andreassi said. “Now, the last few games, we’ve been making a pretty good percentage of them.”

With shots by Morgan Cro and Melania DeZort and a pair of threes from Marlee Sholtes, the Yellowjackets (3-5, 2-3) fought back within seven with four minutes to go in the first half. It would be as close as they’d get the rest of the evening.

“I thought we battled in the first half, they (Knoch) are just a good shooting team,” Freeport coach Fred Soilis said. “You’ve got to pick your poison in how you defend them.”

A handful of forced turnovers aided in the Knights’ 13-0 run a in third quarter where they’d pull away.

“Defensively, we’ve been playing very well, getting after people and causing a lot of havoc,” Andreassi said. “We’ve been scoring a lot off of our defense.”

The Knights entered allowing an average of 28.8 points per game, the least in WPIAL Class 4A. They’ll play the last leg of a season-long four-game home stand against Deer Lakes on Thursday.

As for the Yellowjackets, they’ll have to fend off Deer Lakes, Burrell, and Valley to stay fourth in the section.

“I’m not deterred by (the loss),” Soilis said. “I still think we have a shot at second or third place in the section. . .I don’t think there’s any reason why we don’t go to the playoffs.”

In the second game, Knoch’s boys weren’t as lucky.

Despite a week’s rest and 37 points from senior Ryan Lang, the Knights (4-9, 1-5) were downed by the Freeport boys, 73-60.

With the win, the guests were able to create some wiggle room for themselves at the fourth spot in the section.

“I’m not going to tell them that,” Yellowjacket coach Shawn DeVinney said. “We’re not going to think of it that way. It was the first go-round. We’re excited for the second go-round with the guys.”

Like the Knoch girls in the game before theirs, Freeport (8-5, 3-3) held the lead for the entirety of the contest. The team started the game on a 10-0 run and didn’t allow the hosts a basket almost until the first quarter ended.

Allowing an average of just over 52 points per contest coming in, Freeport’s defense held the Knights’ Keagan Fraser scoreless in the first 16 minutes.

“The beginning of the year, we’ve had a lot of trouble with the smaller things,” senior Vincent Clark said. “They’re finally coming around and kind of getting cemented in.”

Clark paced the team with 21 points. Jason Kijowski came off the bench and added 17, while Cole Charlton scored another 16.

“It can’t be one guy,” Devinney said. “It can’t be two guys, to be honest with you. It’s got to be a team mentality in terms of (scoring).”

Over the next week, the Knights and Yellowjackets will bump into a trio of opponents that all have at least eight wins. They’ll both see section foes Deer Lakes and Burrell. Knoch will hit the road to face New Castle in non-conference action, while Freeport will welcome Highlands.

Knoch coach Alan Bauman was unavailable for comment.