BUTLER TWP — Trailing by 14 points with less than nine minutes remaining, Knoch appeared destined for its second loss to start its season Saturday at the Butler Tip-Off Tournament.

However, the Knights weren’t quite ready to accept such destiny.

A Jackson Bauman layup pulled the Knights within 56-54 with 15.9 seconds remaining against Obama Academy. Naron Jackson sank one of two free throws for the Eagles with 10.6 seconds remaining.

Bauman’s desperation 3-point shot was partially deflected at the buzzer as Obama Academy (1-1) held on for a 57-54 boys basketball victory.

“This sport is all about runs and we survived that last one,” Eagles coach Naron Jackson said. “Knoch has a gritty team. Those boys played hard. But we wanted to win at least one game up here to get our season started.”

The Knights (0-2) started three freshmen for the second consecutive game.

“We know we’re going to go through growing pains,” Knoch coach Alan Bauman said. “It’s still a little frustrating because I see what our team is capable of doing. Taking care of the ball and giving up offensive rebounds ... We talked about that at halftime and we’re still struggling in those areas.

“That hurt us today, but going through this experience, we’ll be the better for it.”

Knoch turned the ball over 20 times, many of those occurring in the backcourt and leading to quick transition points for Obama Academy the other way.

Torrien Perkins led Obama Academy with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Xavier Rodgers contributed 12 points and six rebounds.

Knoch managed only 34 points in the first three quarters before striking for 20 in the fourth.

“I’m encouraged by the way we kept fighting,” Bauman said. “We’re playing two freshmen at point guard, so, like I said, there’s going to be growing pains. They brought the pressure and that bothered us.”

The Eagles won the game without hitting any 3-point field goals.

“We settled for too many jumpers (Friday night) in that (71-43) loss to Butler,” Jackson said. “That’s not our game. We wanted to attack the basket today and play more aggressively on defense, force some mistakes.

“That’s how we won. That’s how we need to play.”

Bauman, one of the freshman point guards, led the Knights with 16 points and three assists. Teegan Finucan, a freshman who scored 25 points off the bench Friday night against Avonworth, contributed 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.

James Snyder, a senior, came off the bench to score six points, grab seven rebounds and two steals for Knoch.

“We’re a much better team when we’re active on the floor and we got into that style of play more in the second half,” Bauman said. “We need to play with more consistency and that will come with time. This is a young team here.”

Knoch travels to Quaker Valley Tuesday night.

KNOCH 54

Jackson Bauman 5-10 4-4 16, Derek Lang 2-4 0-0 4, James Snyder 3-5 0-0 6, Gasparo Porco 0-0 0-0 0, Teegan Finucan 6-16 2-3 14, Kaden Spencer 2-3 2-2 6, Zarian Finucan 2-3 1-4 7, Zane Pacek 0-0 1-2 1, Jackson Pacek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 20-37 10-15 54.

OBAMA ACADEMY 57

Keivan Harris 2-3 2-2 6, Torrien Perkins 10-17 6-8 26, Seth Small 4-9 0-0 8, Xavier Rodgers 5-13 2-5 12, Naron Jackson 2-7 1-2 5, Jake Grosse 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-50 11-17 57.

Knoch 12 12 10 20 — 54

Obama Academy 14 14 17 12 — 57

3-point goals: Knoch 4 (Bauman 2, Z.Finucan 2)

Tuesday: Knoch at Quaker Valley