Knoch’s Teegan Finucan (21) celebrates a a basket and a foul against Freeport in a boys basketball game Jan. 14 at Freeport Middle School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
The non-section schedule for Knoch’s boys basketball team this season has been brutal.
Head coach Alan Bauman wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Knights have faced Moon, McDowell, Johnstown, Baldwin, Bishop Guilfoyle, Belle Vernon and South Allegheny — seven teams with a combined record of 127-19.
Knoch defeated McDowell, Bishop Guilfoyle and South Allegheny, and lost to the other four teams by a combined 14 points. Six weeks ago, they fell 44-43 to Johnstown, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 5A by triblive.com.
“We were leading in the fourth quarter of all of those games,” Bauman said. “Some of them came down to one possession. We like to play teams like that during the season because it prepares us for the playoffs.”
Knoch (16-6 overall) earned the five seed in the WPIAL Class 4A tournament and will host No. 12 West Mifflin (8-13) in a first-round game Friday.
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The Knights finished in second place in WPIAL Section 1-4A with a 10-2 record, behind champion North Catholic and ahead of Deer Lakes, two teams they split with during the season.
With the WPIAL playoffs beginning this week, Knoch’s chances of lasting in the postseason are boosted by a zone defense that has proved extremely difficult to solve.
“All of those top teams we’ve played, in and out of section, they’ve failed to meet their scoring average against us,” Alan Bauman said. “That needs to continue if we want to make a run.”
The Knights’ prowess on the defensive end is bolstered by the fact four of the team’s five starters — juniors Teegan Finucan, Jackson Bauman, Derek Lang and Zane Pacek — have three seasons worth of experience in the system.
“We look for our defense to drive the offense,” Jackson Bauman said. “When we are able to sit back, alter shots and get into transition, that’s when we are at our best.”
“Derek did not start a whole lot for us as a freshman, but he played starter’s minutes,” Alan Bauman said. “Those other three guys are each in their third season in the starting lineup.”
Senior forward Kaden Spencer was supposed to be back as another starter, but an injury suffered during the football season forced Knoch to move in a different direction — enter sophomore Liam Avon.
“He’s 6-(foot-)4 and often guards the other team’s best player,” Jackson Bauman said. “He’s gotten better every game and has fit in very well to the lineup.”
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The Knights have also improved offensively, averaging 10 more points per game than they did two years ago when that group of freshmen took its lumps, but gained valuable experience that has been a big part of the team’s current success.
Reserves Vinnie and Roman DeFelice and Brody Bauman have each scored in double figures in games this season.
“Our biggest growth has come off the court,” Alan Bauman said. “It’s a very close group, and that has helped us play more as a team.”
Knoch lost in the preliminary round of the district playoffs in 2023 and in the quarterfinals last year.
Alan Bauman said the next step for the team would be to reach the state playoffs, which would require no less than a fifth-place finish in the WPIAL tournament.
“We can talk about doing great things, but talk means nothing,” Jackson Bauman said. “Going out and doing it is what matters, and the only way to do that is to focus on the most important game, the game ahead.”
2025 WPIAL Boys Basketball Tournament
Class 6A
Play-in Round, Monday, Feb. 17
No. 9 Woodland Hills at No. 8 Seneca Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 10 North Hills at No. 7 Butler, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Norwin at No. 6 Mt. Lebanon, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Thursday, Feb. 20
Woodland Hills/Seneca Valley at No. 1 Upper St. Clair, TBD
No. 5 Central Catholic at No. 4 Fox Chapel, TBD
North Hills/Butler at No. 2 New Castle, TBD
Norwin/Mt. Lebanon at No. 3 Imani Christian, TBD
Semifinals, Monday, Feb. 24
TBD
Final
Friday, Feb. 28 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 9 p.m.
——
Class 5A
Play-in Round, Thursday, Feb. 13
No. 17 Indiana at No. 16 Franklin, 7 p.m.
First Round, Tuesday, Feb. 18
Indiana/Franklin at No. 1 Montour, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Greater Latrobe at No. 8 Kiski Area, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Thomas Jefferson at No. 4 Chartiers Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Gateway at No. 5 Moon, 7 p.m.
No. 15 Penn-Trafford at No. 2 Baldwin, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Mars at No. 7 South Fayette, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Hampton at No. 3 Uniontown, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Penn Hills at No. 6 Peters Township, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 21
TBD
Semifinals, Tuesday, Feb. 25
TBD
Final
Saturday, March 1 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 7 p.m.
——
Class 4A
First Round, Friday, Feb. 14
No. 9 Highlands at No. 8 Elizabeth Forward, 7 p.m.
No. 12 West Mifflin at No. 5 Knoch, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Quaker Valley at No. 7 Deer Lakes, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Derry at No. 6 Central Valley, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, Feb. 19
Highlands/Elizabeth Forward at No. 1 Belle Vernon, TBD
West Mifflin/Knoch at No. 4 Avonworth, TBD
Quaker Valley/Deer Lakes at No. 2 North Catholic, TBD
Derry/Central Valley at No. 3 Beaver, TBD
Semifinals, Saturday, Feb. 22
TBD
Final
Thursday, Feb. 27 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 9 p.m.
——
Class 3A
First Round, Tuesday, Feb. 18
No. 16 New Brighton at No. 1 Aliquippa, 8 p.m.
No. 9 Shade Side Academy at No. 8 McGuffey, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Seton LaSalle at No. 4 Bishop Canevin, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Ligonier Valley at No. 5 Keystone Oaks, 8 p.m.
No. 15 Charleroi at No. 2 South Allegheny, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Ellwood City at No. 7 South Park, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Waynesburg Central at No. 3 Mohawk, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Carlynton at No. 6 Southmoreland, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 21
TBD
Semifinals, Tuesday, Feb. 25
TBD
Final
Saturday, March 1 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 1 p.m.
——
Class 2A
Play-in Round, Thursday, Feb. 13
No. 21 Springdale at No. 12 Jefferson-Morgan, 7 p.m.
No. 20 Bethlehem Center at No. 13 Winchester Thurston, 6 p.m.
No. 19 Brentwood at No. 14 West Greene, 7 p.m.
No. 18 South Side at No. 15 Bentworth, 7:30 p.m.
No. 17 Eden Christian Academy at No. 16 Laurel, 7 p.m.
First Round, Monday, Feb. 17
Eden Christian/Laurel at No. 1 Greensburg Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Fort Cherry at No. 8 Union, 7 p.m.
Bethlehem Center/Winchester Thurston at No. 4 Neshannock, 7 p.m.
Springdale/Jefferson Morgan at No. 5 Northgate, 7 p.m.
South Side/Bentworth at No. 2 Sewickley Academy, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Shenango at No. 7 Chartiers-Housten, 7 p.m.
Brentwood at West Greene at No. 3 Jeannette, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Clairton at No. 6 OLSH, 7 p.m.
Quarterfinals, Thursday, Feb. 20
TBD
Semifinals, Monday, Feb. 24
TBD
Final
Friday, Feb. 28 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 5 p.m.
——
Class 1A
Quarterfinals, Wednesday, Feb. 19
No. 8 Beaver County Christian at No. 1 Neighborhood Academy, TBD
No. 5 Geibel Catholic at No. 4 Aquinas Academy, TBD
No. 7 Summit Academy at No. 2 Serra Catholic, TBD
No. 6 Monessen at No. 3 Nazareth Prep, TBD
Semifinals, Saturday, Feb. 22
TBD
Final
Thursday, Feb. 27 at Petersen Events Center
TBD, 5 p.m.
