JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch boys basketball team was in need of a spark.

Marc Vaughan was happy to provide it.

The 6-foot-3 junior came off the bench for a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds on Friday to help the Knights claim a 49-34 victory over Kittanning in a mutual Section 1-AAA opener.

“Anytime you get a section win, it's a good win,” said Knoch coach Josh Shoop. “Last year, we lost this first game against Kittanning, so I'm happy we got it.”

Both teams struggled to find an early offensive rhythm.

Neither squad managed to score until beyond the midpoint of the first quarter when Kittanning's Ty Lambert knocked down a 3-pointer. Tavita Lio answered for Knoch with a triple of his own on the following possession.

The Knights (1-2, 1-0) committed eight turnovers against the Wildcats' zone defense and trailed 8-5 after the first frame.

The Wildcats (2-3, 0-1) felt like they let a chance to seize a comfortable lead slip away.

“We missed a real big opportunity,” said Kittanning coach William Henry. “We had too many turnovers and we missed some easy shots.”

Knoch began to click offensively in the second quarter and took its first lead of the game when Lio fed Vaughan inside for a 13-12 edge with under 4 minutes to go in the half.

At that point, Vaughan had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.

“Marc did a great job for us tonight and that's what we needed,” said Shoop. “We were really having trouble putting the ball in the hoop, and at times, we weren't getting rebounds. ... I can't be more proud of him.”

Fortunately for the Knights, it didn't take Vaughan much time to feel comfortable around the basket.

“It's hard coming off the bench sometimes and getting heated up pretty quick, but I seemed to do it today,” said Vaughan. “I gave a lot of pump fakes and they definitely jumped for those. ... Getting inside and going up strong worked real well.”

Knoch took a 25-18 cushion into halftime after Vaughan converted a layup at the buzzer off an assist from Austin Miller.

After just five points in the first quarter, Knoch outscored the Wildcats 20-10 in the second frame.

“In the second quarter especially, we started to get into the middle of that zone,” said Shoop. “In the first quarter, we were content with standing around the outside of the zone. Once our guards started getting in the middle, it really opened up things for the post guys.”

The Knights stretched the advantage to double digits for the first time when Lio found Dakota Bruggeman for a bucket with 5:40 to go in the third.

Mike Cunningham ended the frame with an exclamation point.

The junior came away with a steal in the final moments, pulled up from well beyond the arc and banked home a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Knights a 37-24 advantage.

“That was a big 3. I'm happy for Mike,” said Shoop. “It definitely gave us a lift.”

Sterling Henry — who tallied a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds — cut the Kittanning deficit to 41-32 with 3:45 to play, but the Wildcats wouldn't come any closer.

Coach Henry was happy with his team's defensive effort, but the lack of offensive production was frustrating.

“We got the looks that we wanted. I think we had one sequence when a guy missed four layups in a row,” said Henry. “Everything we're trying to do defensively is there. Offensively, were just not putting the ball in the basket.”

Vince Mead was a defensive force for the Wildcats, posting six blocks and four steals.

Miller led the Knights with three assists and Alex Strezeski paced the Knoch defense with three steals.

Knoch won the junior varsity game, as well. Matt Zanella led the Knights with 14 points.

KITTANNING 34Ty Lambert 1-6 0-0 3, Sterling Henry 6-21 4-6 17, Vince Mead 4-10 0-0 8, Kevin Barnes 2-4 0-0 4, Mike Foster 0-3 0-0 0, Blake Crissman 1-2 0-0 2, Mitch Pirhalla 0-2 0-0 0, Phil Falchetti 0-0 0-0 0, Alek Schaffer 0-0 0-0 0, Eliot Rush 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 14-49 4-6 34.

KNOCH 49Austin Miller 0-5 6-8 6, Dakota Bruggeman 3-9 1-2 7, Alex Strezeski 2-2 3-4 7, Jack Boros 0-6 2-4 2, Tavita Lio 3-8 1-2 9, Philip Kletzil 0-0 0-0 0, Mike Cunningham 1-2 0-0 3, Marc Vaughan 7-12 1-1 15, Andrew Tuzikow 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 16-44 14-21 49.

Kittanning 8 10 6 10—34Knoch 5 20 12 12—493-point goals: Kittanning 2-9 (Lambert 1-3, Henry 1-4, Barnes 0-1, Rush 0-1); Knoch 3-7 (Lio 2-5, Cunningham 1-1, Miller 0-1).

Monday: Knoch at Indiana, 7:30 p.m.