JEFFERSON TWP - Balanced scoring, tenacious defense and a solid performance from the free throw line - what more can a coach ask for?

The fact that his team accomplished all three in a win against a two-time defending WPIAL champion was icing on the cake for Knoch girls basketball coach Curt Vasas.

The Knights took a 27-25 lead at halftime and never gave it up as they disposed of perennial power North Catholic 61-53 in Section 1-AAA action Thursday night.

Trailing Knoch 44-35 entering the final period, North Catholic received 12 fourth-quarter points from Danielle Cicuto to keep it close, but a 15-of-19 performance from the free throw line in the final quarter helped to seal the victory for the Knights.

Knoch's Jen Robinson and Maria Frey both contributed 17 points in the victory.

"This win puts us in a good position," said Vasas. "But we know there is still a lot of work to be done.

"We learned that we have to take better care of the basketball," added Vasas, after watching his team turn the ball over 20 times.

North Catholic (5-1, 1-1), a new addition to the section, was undefeated entering the game.

The outcome was decided by the teams' performances from the field.

Knoch was a solid 17-for-37 for 46 percent from the floor while North Catholic shot a dismal 17-for-61 for 28 percent.

Nowhere were the Trojans' frustrations more apparent than in the second half, as star guard April Austin tallied just one point in the final 16 minutes.

"We definitely didn't shoot the ball well tonight," said North Catholic coach Bill Larkin. "But (Knoch's) defense had something to do with that."

"You know, I was looking at their lineup before the game," Vasas said of the Trojans, "and it's like an all-star team. Everybody in their lineup can hurt you.

"We decided to play them straight up, man-to-man," added Vasas. "Our intensity on defense was incredible tonight."

Robinson also tallied 14 rebounds for the Knights (5-1, 2-0) while Nicole Reiser added 12 points and five assists.

"Our girls don't care who scores the points," said Vasas. "They're just worried about what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. They are all so unselfish."

Neither team could gain control in the first half, but the Knights came out firing in the third quarter.

Reiser and Lauren Koegler hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to put Knoch up 37-27 with 4:48 left in the third period.

Every time the Trojans appeared to have momentum swinging their way, the Knights came up with a big stop on defense or a big basket at the other end - sometimes both.

"We knew that we could compete with this team," said Vasas. "We told the girls that they needed to be aggressive on both ends of the floor and they were."

"We told our girls to be prepared for a good team, but Knoch played a great game tonight," said Larkin.

NORTH CATHOLIC 53

April Austin 4 4-8 13, Rachel Frederick 6 8-10 22, Danielle Cicuto 5 2-4 13, Jenna Herbert 2 1-1 5. Totals: 17 15-23 53.

KNOCH 61

Nicole Reiser 3 5-6 12, Liz Burgard 0 6-8 6, Lauren Koegler 3 0-0 9, Maria Frey 7 3-4 17, Jen Robinson 4 9-10 17. Totals: 17 23-28 61.

3-point goals: Frederick 2, Cicuto, Austin; Koegler 3, Reiser.

JV: North Catholic 37-29 (K-Pam Gagen, Kristin Robb and Meghan McCrea 6 points; NC-Callie White 16)

Monday: Knoch @ Hampton