JEFFERSON TWP — With Knoch clinging to a 12-9 lead after the first quarter, Knights coach Curt Vasas gathered his team.

"I looked at the girls and said, 'Girls, we're doing everything we want to do,'" Vasas said.

They continued to do it for the next three quarters.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Knoch girls basketball team beat Freeport 55-23. In many respects, the contest between two contenders in their respective WPIAL conferences wasn't even that close.

It was a shock to Yellowjackets coach KevinSmetak, who cringed at some of the final numbers, such as 23 points, 27 turnovers and a 2-to-1 rebounding deficit.

"I told the girls there are going to be times during the season that no matter what you do, right or wrong, things like this are going to happen," Smetak said. "This was one of them."

Freeport (3-3) was 9-of-43 shooting from the floor, 3-of-10 from the free throw line and went stretches of nine minutes and six minutes without making a field goal.

Knoch's man-to-man pressure defense had a lot to do with that.

In its first five games, Freeport had not faced a man-to-man defense.

"Knoch played really good defense tonight," Smetak said. "They denied our wings and played Cassie (Smolic) strong inside."

Smolic, who entered the game averaging about 12 points per game was held to four points. Stephanie Clowes, another of the Yellowjackets' top scorers, was held without a point.

Freeport figures to play many more man defenses in the coming weeks.

"We're hoping this will be an opportunity for us to learn," Smetak said.

Knoch struggled from the perimeter early in the contest, going 0-for-11 from 3-point range in the first quarter and 2-of-15 in the first half.

After that, the Knight went inside instead and reaped the rewards.

Knoch carved up Freeport's zone defense with ball movement and quickness.

"Against a zone, we don't even want to dribble," Vasas said.

Megan Gray scored 17 points, Abby Marshall added 12 and Lizz King had 10 for Knoch.

FREEPORT 23Kirsten Almquist 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Dunn 3-5 0-0 8, Kristen Prazenica 0-5 0-0 0, Samantha Campbell 3-6 1-2 7, Kayla Eckman 0-3 2-4 2, Stephanie Clowes 0-7 0-0 0, Andrea Ferko 0-4 0-0 0, Cassie Smolic 2-5 0-4 4, Cortny Chelecki 1-1 0-0 2, Jessica Fair 0-6 0-0 0.

Totals: 9-43 3-10 23

KNOCH 55Megan Gray 8-10 1-2 17, Haley Hutterer 0-1 0-0 0, Leanne Wiefling 3-8 0-0 6, AbbyMarshall 5-14 0-0 12, Pam Gagen 1-5 1-2 3, Ashley Cetnar 0-2 0-0 0, Anita Hartzel 0-0 0-0 0, Kristen Gagen 1-4 0-0 2, Sara Montgomery 2-5 1-2 5, Sarah Cooper 1-4 0-0 2, Lizz King 4-11 2-4 10.

Totals: 25-64 5-10 55

Freeport 9 2 9 3—23Knoch 12 19 10 14—553-point goals: Dunn, Marshall 2

JV: Knoch 45-26

Thursday: Knoch at Kittanning; Freeport at Apollo-Ridge