JEFFERSON TWP — Josh Shoop contributed to many Knoch boys basketball victories as a player.

On Monday night, he notched his first win as a coach at his alma mater.

The Knights outscored visiting Indiana 39-14 in the second and third quarters and went on to thump the Indians, 67-46.

“It feels good,” said Shoop, a 1991 Knoch graduate. “I'm happy for the kids and that's what it's all about. This is their first win of the season”

The second quarter proved pivotal to the game's outcome.

The Knights (1-3) trailed 15-11 at the start of the period, but a defensive switch sparked the team.

“We were getting stale with our man-to-man there at the end of the first quarter, making some bad decisions,” said Shoop. “So we mixed it up on defense in that second quarter.”

The zone defense was just what the doctor ordered.

Knoch opened the period on an 18-5 run, capped with Mike Schenck's three-point play with 3:08 left before halftime that put the home team up by nine points.

The Indians (1-4) got off just 10 field goal attempts in the period, making three of them, while Knoch was a blistering 10-of-14 for 71.4 percent in the same span.

The Knights also forced six turnovers in the second quarter, compared to just one for their offense.

“Coach Shoop did his homework,” said Indiana coach Jeff Reed. “We don't play well against a zone and it changed the complexion of the game.

“We started to get frustrated on offense and it affected our play on defense,” Reed added.

“We committed five turnovers in the first quarter and just one in the second,” said Shoop. “I thought that was key.”

The Knights carried a 50-29 lead into the final quarter.

Senior Nathan Junk led the win with 12 points while Ryan Schultheis, Tavita Lio and Schenck each chipped in with nine points.

“Nathan always does a good job for us,” Shoop said of Junk, a 6-feet-3 senior forward. “He is a smart player and doesn't take unnecessary shots. And he cleans up the glass for us.”

Tyrayl Veney led Indiana with 15 points.

INDIANA 46Alex Pettina 3 0-1 8, Jordan Logan 2 0-0 4, Tyrayl Veney 5 3-4 15, Andrew Mack 1 1-2 3, Darrius Carter 3 1-2 7, Dante Lombardi 2 0-0 6, Jordan Hudzicki 1 0-0 3, DeQuan West 0 0-2 0, Derek Stapleton 0 0-0 0, Darnae Clemons 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17 5-9 46.

KNOCH 67Ryan Schultheis 3 2-2 9, Alex Strezeski 2 0-0 4, Dakota Bruggeman 3 0-0 6, Tavita Lio 4 0-0 9, Marc Vaughan 0 2-2 2, Adam Seger 2 0-0 5, Andy Tuzikow 1 0-0 2, Adam Tuzikow 2 3-3 7, Kyle Hilliard 1 0-0 2, Nathan Junk 6 0-0 12, Mike Schenck 3 3-5 9, Jack Boros 0 0-2 0, Phil Kletzli 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 27 10-14 67.

Indiana 15 7 7 17—46Knoch 11 24 15 17—673-point goals: Indiana 7 (Pettina 2, Veney 2, Lombardi 2, Hudzicki); Knoch 3 (Schultheis, Lio, Seger).

Today: Deer Lakes at Knoch