Knoch junior Derek Lang, left, drives against Cathedral Prep sophomore Sebastian Wofford during a boys basketball PIAA first-round playoff game at the Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie on Friday, March 7, 2025. Greg Wohlford/Special to the Eagle

ERIE — Putting together runs was not the problem for Knoch’s boys basketball team Friday night. Having them last long enough to overtake District 10 champion Cathedral Prep was.

The Ramblers built a 16-7 lead by late in the first quarter, led 33-22 at halftime and 50-40 with one quarter to play. The Knights consistently got back in the game, but when Jackson Bauman’s bucket cut Prep’s lead to 50-44 with 6:52 left, Knoch got as close as it would get.

Prep’s Michael Thompson and Nando Mirarchi spearheaded the team’s late surge — 18 combined points in the final period — that ended Knoch’s season with a 70-57 loss in a PIAA Class 4A first-round playoff at Hagerty Family Events Center.

The Knights scored 35 points in the second half compared to just 22 in the first.

“That’s one thing we have to work on as a young team moving forward, getting off to faster starts on the road,” Knoch coach Alan Bauman said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and played better offensively, but a couple of breakdowns on defense hurt us.”

Thompson’s conventional three-point play with 5:40 left put the Ramblers up 53-44 and ignited the team’s run that put the game out of reach.

In its recent win over Sharon for the District 10 title, Prep received 58 combined points from Thompson and Mirarchi. The duo dropped 43 Friday.

“They have some really good skill players, guys who can really shoot,” Bauman said.

Knoch head coach Alan Bauman questions an official during a boys basketball PIAA first-round playoff game against Cathedral Prep at the Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie on Friday, March 7, 2025. Greg Wohlford/Special to the Eagle

Consistently stopping the Knights short of pulling even was as much about mindset as physical ability, according to Thompson.

“We have that next gear,” he said. “There were probably a few shots I took that I shouldn’t have, but we settled down and played with composure.

“We are a very confident team right now.”

Jackson Bauman scored 13 points, all in the second half, to lead Knoch. Brody Bauman added 11 and Teegan Finucan 10.

Friday’s defeat was the first time all season — 27 games — the Knights lost by double digits. Their schedule included strong section foes North Catholic and Deer Lakes. Out of section, they faced heavyweights Belle Vernon, Baldwin and Johnstown, among other formidable opponents.

“We were literally in every game, even tonight,” Bauman said. “We are still a young team trying to figure things out. Hopefully, this loss motivates us in the offseason.”

Knoch (19-8) was making its first appearance in the state playoffs in 19 years.

The Ramblers (18-8) will face Grove City, which defeated Clearfield, in the second round.

KNOCH 57

Derek Lang 2 0-0 5, Jackson Bauman 5 2-2 13, Brody Bauman 3 3-4 11, Roman DeFelice 1 2-2 4, Teegan Finucan 4 0-0 10, Vinnie DeFelice 3 0-1 7, Liam Avon 2 1-1 5, Zane Pacek 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 8-10 57.

CATHEDRAL PREP 70

Ahmari Horton 1 2-2 4, Nando Mirarchi 6 8-8 21, Cormac Thunell 3 1-2 8, Max Wallace 5 0-0 11, Michael Thompson 9 3-5 22, Sebastian Wofford 0 2-2 2, Spencer Kanne 0 2-2 2. Totals: 24 18-21 70.

Knoch 11 11 18 17 — 57

Cathedral Prep 18 15 17 20 — 70

3-point goals: Knoch 7 (B.Bauman 2, Finucan 2, Lang, J.Bauman, V. DeFelice); Cathedral Prep 4 (Thompson, Wallace, Thunell, Mirarchi).