HAMPTON TWP — It's going to be another sleepless night for Chris Andreassi.

The Knoch boys basketball coach hasn't been getting many Zs lately. He's been too concerned about Ws and Ls.

On Tuesday, the Knights got a big W over section rival Highlands and Andreassi spent the night with his eyes wide open in celebration.

But on Friday, Knoch picked up a disappointing L against Hampton, falling 61-54.

It had Andreassi dreading another night filled with 3 a.m. infomercials.

"It hurts," the coach said. "I haven't slept much this week. I thought tonight I'd get to go home and go to bed, but this one really hurts more than any of the other losses.

"We have such great kids. They laid it out on the line," Andreassi added after Knoch put forth a gritty performance against the one-loss Talbots.

Michael Gallagher scored 13 of his team-high 16 points in the first half to keep the Knights within five at the break.

In the third quarter, Rob Briggs found his only rhythm of the game, scoring six of Knoch's 14 points as the Knights pulled ahead 45-43 with eight minutes remaining in the game.

But Hampton (21-1, 10-1) scored the first four baskets of the fourth quarter to take a six-point lead and never trailed again.

"Tonight was just another classic Section 1 battle," said Hampton coach Joe Lafko. "Knoch is a very dangerous team."

Lafko was very aware of that fact after the Knights (13-8, 7-3) knocked off Highlands — the only team to beat the Talbots.

He also was aware of how dangerous Briggs can be.

The Talbots did a good job hounding the Knights' 6-foot-5 forward, collapsing on him in the post and forcing him into difficult shots.

Briggs finished with 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

"One of the things we wanted to do was limit Briggs," Lafko said. "I have to give (Bob) Bartley credit for his ability to do that."

Bartley, the quarterback on the Hampton football team, gave Briggs fits.

"That was tough on him," Andreassi said. "There was some very physical play down there. They were riding him through the lane."

Knoch had its chances in the fourth quarter.

Hampton led 55-48 before Briggs hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four with 3:17 remaining in the contest.

The Talbots then went into clock-killing mode and it nearly cost them.

Asa Braxton, who led Hampton with 17 points, missed three consecutive free throws — two of them in one-and-one situations — but Knoch could not take advantage of them.

"I think we had too many opportunities when we didn't even get a shot off," Andreassi said.

A win and the Knights could have thought about a possible section title. But the loss all but eliminates that hope.

The focus now for Andreassi — other than counting sheep — is counting ways to beat Valley on Tuesday.

"That's what we're thinking about. Valley," Andreassi said. "They are very talented. They are capable of beating anyone, even (Hampton)."

KNOCH 54Shawn Samek 1-6 4-4 6, Michael Gallagher 6-11 0-0 16, Patrick Walker 0-0 1-2 1, Kyle Reiser 3-6 2-5 8, Jake McTighe 0-0 0-0 0, Rob Briggs 5-18 1-2 13, Alex Whisler 1-2 0-0 2, Andrew Wirtz 2-4 2-2 8.

Totals: 18-43 10-15 54

HAMPTON 61Joe Cangilla 6-14 2-5 10, Greg Conner 0-0 0-0 0, Bob Bartley 1-5 1-2 3, Dan O'Mara 4-5 2-3 10, Asa Braxton 5-12 5-8 17, Chris Tanski 1-1 0-0 2, Corey McGinnis 4-5 5-7 14.

Totals: 21-42 15-25 61

Knoch 15 16 14 9—54Hampton 14 22 7 18—613-point goals: Knoch 8 (Gallagher 4, Briggs 2, Wirtz 2; Hampton 3 (Braxton 2, McGinnis)

JV: Hampton 60-57 (OT)

Tuesday: Valley at Knoch