Knoch girls tighten up on glass to defeat Golden Lions
JEFFERSON TWP — Members of Knoch’s girls basketball team knew what they needed to do to avenge a 43-39 loss to Greensburg Salem in early January.
“Box out, definitely,” said Knoch sophomore guard Neah Ewing following Thursday’s rematch. “We couldn’t allow Mankins (Kaitlyn, Lions’ senior forward) so many putbacks this time.”
But knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things. Knoch was on the short end of a 22-7 battle for boards in the first half and trailed by four points at the break. But over the final 16 minutes, the Knights were even with the Lions on the glass and dominated the scoreboard before celebrating a 43-33 section victory.
“We also took better care of the ball,” said Knoch coach Shane McGraw. “Neah got hot there in the third quarter and that allowed us to get into our 1-2-2 press.”
Ewing drained a pair of treys early in the second half to give the Knights (11-8, 6-4) a 24-22 lead. Greensburg Salem managed just two points in the quarter — Blessing Gantt’s basket with two minutes left in the third — that cut Knoch’s lead to 26-24.
The Knights had struggled to build on their lead, but scored five points in the final minute to lead 31-24 entering the fourth period.
Including in the spurt were baskets from Adah Fuller and Abby Hawk.
Knoch had made just two of its first eight free throws, but sank eight of 12 in the fourth quarter to keep the Lions (14-6, 6-4) at bay.
“We have not shot free throws well this year,” McGraw said. “It’s been a problem for us, but not because of effort. The girls shoot a ton of them in practice.”
Ewing led all scorers with 15 points and Buterbaugh added 10.
Mankins netted 12 points for the Lions and Ashlan Price scored 11, but was held to just two points on free throws in the second half. In the second half, Greensburg Salem shot just 20% (four of 20) from the field.
McGraw said his team has made significant strides on offense since scoring a combined 51 points in two games at the season-opening Armstrong Tournament.
“We’re moving the ball much better,” he said. “We have a number of girls who can drive and score and we’re more comfortable with our offensive sets.”
And there’s that defense, which keeps the team in games.
“We just have to keep playing hard and believing in ourselves and each other,” Neah Ewing said.
Knoch travels to Valley on Monday.
GREENSBURG SALEM 33
Ashlan Price 4 2-2 11, Kaitlyn Mankins 5 2-8 12, Sophie Beckerleg 2 0-0 4, Gia Rosensteel 0 2-2 2, Blessing Gantt 1 0-0 2, Mya Heasley 1 0-0 2, Regan Kerr 0 0-0 0, Kenzie Spann 0 0-0 0, Patty Redinger 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 6-12 33.
KNOCH 43
Karlee Buterbaugh 4 2-3 10, Adah Fuller 4 0-0 8, Naturelle Ewing 1 2-6 4, Aubrey Spencer 1 0-0 2, Neah Ewing 4 4-8 15, Abby Hawk 1 2-3 4. Totals: 15 10-20 43.
G’burg Salem 13 9 2 9 — 33
Knoch 10 8 13 12 — 43
3-point goals: Greensburg Salem 1 (Price); Knoch 3 (Neah Ewing 3).
