Tasting Victory
JEFFERSON TWP — Young and inexperienced, Knoch’s boys basketball team has been searching for a footing early in the season.
The Knights took a firm step Thursday night.
Two freshmen — Teegan Finucan and Derek Lang — combined for 39 points as Knoch earned its first victory of the season, 51-42 over visiting Valley.
“We told our guys that December is for growing. January is when we start section play,” said Knoch coach Alan Bauman, who had watched his team drop its first five games of the season. “But we needed this. We’ve had a tough schedule to begin the season and hopefully, this is something we can build on.”
The Knights (1-5) led 24-16 at the break before Valley’s Xavier Wilson caught fire from beyond the arc, draining five treys in the third quarter. For the game, he paced the Vikings with 21 points, half of the team’s total.
“He played well in a few games for us last season, but then decided to wrestle,” said Valley coach John Stone. “He told me he’s totally committed to basketball this year. The kid can shoot the ball.”
Wilson’s fourth 3-pointer of the period, with 1:48 left, cut Knoch’s lead to 32-30.
“We lost him a few times in transition,” Bauman said.
But the Knights never did relinquish the lead. Lang’s trey at 1:33 pushed the lead to 35-30 and Finucan’s basket late in the quarter made it 41-35.
Finucan led Knoch with 21 points and Lang added 18. The latter sank two treys in the first 50 seconds of the fourth quarter for a 47-35 edge.
“We’re young and that’s why we’d play good for a few minutes, then not so good for a few,” said Bauman. “One thing I have been happy with so far this season is our defense. We talk about having active hands, feet and mouths. We’re giving up totals in the 40s and 50s and that’s good defense.”
Valley struggled from the floor for most of the night, including a bevy of missed shots in the paint. For the game, the Vikings (1-4) were 17 of 54 from the field. They were just two of 15 in the final period.
“The guys are not giving up,” said Stone. “One of these nights, everything’s going to click, where everyone is making shots instead of just one guy.”
Knoch travels to Central Valley on Friday.
VALLEY 42
Dallas Price 2 0-0 4, Keyziyah Clay 1 1-2 3, Jayden Richter 3 0-0 6, Jacob Stananiec 1 0-0 3, Mickael Allen 2 1-2 5, Xavier Wilson 8 0-0 21, Tayshaun Hawkins 0 0-0 0, Aundrey Taylor 0 0-0 0, Tyree Jamison 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 2-4 42.
KNOCH 51
Teegan Finucan 7 4-6 21, Jackson Bauman 3 0-1 6, Kaden Spencer 1 0-0 2, James Snyder 2 0-0 4, Derek Lang 6 1-2 18, Zane Pacek 0 0-0 0, Zarian Finucan 0 0-0 0, Jay Allen 0 0-0 0, Jackson Pacek 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 5-9 51.
Valley 8 8 19 7 — 42
Knoch 8 16 17 10 — 51
3-point goals: Valley 6 (Wilson 5, Stananiec); Knoch 8 (Lang 5, T.Finucan 3).
Friday: Knoch at Central Valley
