JEFFERSON TWP— Knoch senior forward Rob Briggs had two points and one rebound in the first half.

The Knights still led Kittanning by 10.

With that, Knoch proved it has more than just the defending Butler Eagle Boys Basketball Co-Player of the Year.

Sophomore Jake McTighe scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds, including six boards in the first quarter alone, to lead four Knights in double digits on the way to a 59-45 win over the Wildcats in the section opener Friday night.

Michael Gallagher scored all 10 of his points in the first half and Kyle Reiser also scored 10 points for the Knights.

"Reiser is so quick and explosive going to the basket," said Knoch coach Chris Andreassi. "Michael is just a pure shooter."

Knoch needed them againstKittanning.

The Wildcats were determined not to let Briggs burn them inside, playing a zone defense that converged on the Knoch star in the high post like paparazzi on Lindsay Lohan.

The strategy worked in the first half, as Briggs struggled with the few opportunities to shoot he created.

Part of the problem, Andreassi said, was Knoch didn't open up space for Briggs by passing crisply.

"It makes it more important, if we see zones in the future, to move the basketball," Andreassi said. "Five guys on the floor, they each need a couple of touches. The ball moves the zone. That's what we say."

With the zone moving in the second half, Briggs found some space.

He hit two big 3-pointers to stall Kittanning rallies in the second half.

Briggs scored 12 of his 14 points and grabbed seven of his eight rebounds after halftime.

"Great players step up and hit great shots," said Kittanning coachWilliam Henry. "We were doing everything we needed to do. But they are a good team and they know what they are doing."

Kittanning got as close as eight points late in the fourth quarter, but Knoch closed the game with an 8-2 run.

That extended the Wildcats' section losing streak to 49 games. The last section game Kittanning won was against Mars Dec. 9, 2003.

Andreassi said it won't be long before Kittanning is celebrating a section win.

"They're a good basketball team," Andreassi said. "They're going to win a game coming up and break that streak. I'm just glad it wasn't tonight."

KITTANNING 45Tyler Baum 1-8 0-0 3, Cody Metro 5-12 0-0 10, Andrew Snyder 3-15 6-7 13, Austin Abranovic 2-5 0-0 4, Cary Snyder 1-4 0-0 2, Ryan Risch 1-2 4-4 6, Cody Rainey 0-1 1-2 1, Josh Grafton 0-0 0-0 0, John Lambert 1-2 0-0 3, Scott Warner 0-1 0-0 0, Dan Klingensmith 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 15-51 11-15 45

KNOCH 59Shawn Samek 0-3 4-4 4, Michael Gallagher 4-9 0-0 10, Kyle Reiser 5-8 0-1 10, Jake McTighe 6-8 4-6 16, Rob Briggs 6-21 0-1 14, Andrew Wirtz 1-3 1-1 3, Josh Lio 1-2 0-0 2, Corey Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Kevin Wood 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Cetnar 0-0 0-0 0, Preston Saxton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-54 9-13 59

Kittanning 8 11 6 20—45Knoch 15 14 10 20—593-point goals: Baum, Metro, Lambert; Gallagher 2, Briggs 2

JV: Knoch 48, Kittanning 31

Tuesday: Knoch at Indiana