Andreassi maximized court time
JEFFERSON TWP — For Knoch, this girls basketball season was all about “checking off boxes.”
That’s how Knights coach Chris Andreassi described a 2021-22 campaign that resulted in an 18-game winning streak, the program’s first section championship in 50 years and first-ever WPIAL title game appearance, PIAA tournament game and state tourney victory.
“All of the girls bought into what we wanted to do,” Andreassi said.
“They not only worked hard in practice ... they looked forward to practice,” Knoch assistant coach Shane McGraw said.
Knoch finished with a 22-4 record — and Andreassi has received selection as the Butler Eagle’s Butler County Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. Also receiving consideration were North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann and Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn.
“It’s an honor and it’s appreciated,” Andreassi said. “Something like this, it all starts with the players. And I have a staff that makes my job as head coach much easier.”
Andreassi credits assistant Wess Brahler with getting each practice started.
“The first 30 minutes of each practice basically belongs to Wess,” Andreassi said. “He gets the girls prepped and ready. He knows the game and is a tremendous asset to this program.”
Brahler said Andreassi is involved with Knoch girls basketball all year.
“That’s what it takes now,” Brahler said. “If you just show up in November, you’re not going to be playing in March. Chris structures every practice right down to the minute. The girls have come to expect that.
“While we practice hard, Chris always says the right thing to these girls. He makes it fun. He knows when to keep it light.”
McGraw pointed out that Andreassi gets to know each player on the team individually.
“He cares about them as people and knows what buttons to push with them,” McGraw said.
While Knoch was preparing to play Montour in the WPIAL playoffs, McGraw was preparing a scouting report on Southmoreland (the Knights’ would-be next oppponent). When the Knights were getting ready for Southmoreland, McGraw was focusing on Blackhawk.
“He kept telling me he would have everything scouted and ready for that following game,” Andreassi said. “As a coach, that made me nervous. I didn’t want to hear about it. But he had us prepared and ahead of the game that way.”
Andreassi once held up a Knoch jersey in front of the players and asked them what they saw. He pointed to the “Knoch” printed on the jersey, along with the uniform number.
He rattled off the numbers 25, 33, 13, 12, 15, 11, 23, the numbers that are usually on the floor during the games.
“But the jersey is made up of more than letters and numbers,” Andreassi said. “There’s the fabric, the stitching ... That is comprised of the entire team. Our scout team gets us ready for games by simulating what our opponents do.
“Everyone plays a part. Our players often have a tougher time of it playing against their teammates in practice than they do playing in actual games. That’s a tribute to this entire team.”
Andreassi said the preseason goals mapped out this season included winning the section title, the WPIAL title and advancing deep into the state tournament.
“We didn’t accomplish some of those things, but we did show we could play with any team in the state,” Andreassi said.
The Knights are graduating four-year starter Madilyn Boyer. But would-be starter Megan Vasas missed this season due to a torn ACL. She will return to the lineup next year.
“And our goals will remain the same,” Andreassi said. “We’ve already talked about them.”
