NATRONA HEIGHTS — With the game on the line, the Knoch boys basketball team put the ball in the hands of its go-to player.

And Highlands was ready for it.

Trailing the host Rams 57-55 with 10.4 seconds remaining Wednesday night, the Knights had Mike Gallagher inbound the ball to Rob Briggs, the team's leading scorer at 18.8 points per game.

The junior forward took the ball on the far side of the court, dribbled around the top of the key and appeared to set up for a 3-point attempt when a Highlands player got his hand on the ball. The official ruled it to be a jump ball, with the possession arrow favoring Highlands.

The Rams' Reece Mabery added a free throw before Knoch's Alex Whisler put up a desperation 3-pointer from beyond halfcourt that was off target as Highlands (12-0) remained perfect with a 58-55 win.

The Rams converged three players on Briggs the moment he received the ball. It was obvious they would not let Briggs beat them.

"We figured the ball would go to him," said Rams coach Rick Falter.

"I told Rob if the 3-pointer was there, hit it and let's go home," said Knights coach Chris Andreassi. "But we were also fine with getting two and playing a few extra minutes tonight. It just didn't go off as planned."

The Knights' last lead came when Briggs put his team up 43-42 with a drive and score with seven minutes left in the game.

After a Highlands free throw tied the game at 43, Damon Porter drained his third 3-pointer of the game with 6:26 left that put the Rams up for good at 46-43.

Knoch, which had a 41-39 lead entering the final quarter, was victimized by 24 turnovers.

Five of them came in the deciding fourth quarter.

"I knew it was going to take a good effort to win tonight," said Andreassi. "And I thought we gave a great effort tonight, except for a couple of moments when they outscored us in bunches."

The Rams withstood a Knoch offense that was running on all cylinders in the first quarter.

In that span, the Knights were 8-of-12 for 67 percent from the field and led Highlands 19-14 by the end of the period.

The home team's 5-point deficit remained the same at halftime at 33-28.

"Our kids showed heart tonight," said Falter. "I told them it had nothing to do with coaching. It was all because of their heart."

Briggs ended the game with a team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Whisler added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyle Reiser had 10 points for Knoch (8-3).

Dane Porter led the Rams with 17 points and Damon Porter added 15.

KNOCH 55Shawn Samek 1 2-2 5, Mike Gallagher 3 0-0 8, Andrew Wirtz 1 0-0 3, Kyle Reiser 5 0-4 10, Rob Briggs 7 1-2 16, Alex Whisler 5 2-2 13, Jake McTighe 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 22 5-10 55.

HIGHLANDS 58Dane Porter 7 1-3 17, Jared Witucki 1 0-0 2, Reece Mabery 3 1-3 8, Cornell Thomas 4 2-4 10, Damon Porter 5 2-4 15, Jeff Sinclair 3 0-0 6, Cory Ballard 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 23 6-14 58.

Knoch 19 14 8 14—55Highlands 14 14 11 19—583-point goals: Knoch 6 (Gallagher 2, Samek, Wirtz, Briggs, Whisler); Highlands 6 (Damon Porter 3, Dane Porter 2, Mabery).

JV: Knoch 64-46 (K-Dreschler 16 points)

Friday: Hampton at Knoch