Knoch girls look to keep meeting program’s high standards

By: Jerin Steele
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

In the last seven years, the Knoch girls basketball program has built itself into a consistent contender.

The Knights have been in the playoffs every season during that span, made a WPIAL Class 4A championship appearance in 2022 and have qualified for the state playoffs three consecutive seasons.

With three returning starters and some intriguing newcomers, the goal is to keep that streak going.

“That’s the baseline for where we expect to be,” Knoch coach Shane McGraw said. “Get in there and maybe every couple of years make a run at a championship. Extending the season like we have the last few years has been great for the younger girls getting extra practice time. It’s what we want to do, and that’s no different this year.”

Knoch made it to the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals last year where it fell to Elizabeth Forward. The Knights were able to play their way into the PIAA tournament and took District 10 champ Fairview to the wire before falling 33-26.

The three returning starters are senior Karlee Buterbaugh, junior Neah Ewing and sophomore Aubrey Spencer. Buterbaugh and Ewing are guards, while Spencer is a forward.

“There’s really good camaraderie among those three,” McGraw said. “They’re really good friends off the court. Each one of them is multi-talented. All of them can put it on the floor, shoot it and get to the rim. They play pretty well off each other.”

Jada Burgard, a junior, and sophomore Liv Foster are guards that will make the transition to varsity after being mainly junior varsity players last season. Freshman Jocelyn Szebalskie provides size to the lineup and projects to be the starting center for the Knights.

Knoch will start its season at the Montour tournament against the host Spartans on Nov. 29. They’ll face Thomas Jefferson the following day. Mars, Shaler and Karns City are other key nonsection matchups in the early part of the season.

McGraw beefed up the nonsection schedule to prepare for what looks like a pretty strong Section 1-4A.

Oakland Catholic and Burrell are newcomers to the section, joining defending 4A champ North Catholic, Derry, Freeport, Highlands and Valley. Oakland Catholic was the top seed in the Class 5A tournament last year and went undefeated in the regular season.

“You have a perennial power in North Catholic and then add in another perennial power in Oakland Catholic,” McGraw said. “To me, though, the goal is to try and win a title, so you have to play them sooner or later. To get them in your section and play them twice is both a blessing and a curse. We’re up for the challenge, for sure. You want to play the best and we get two right in our section to start with. We’re familiar with Burrell too, and we know they have some talented girls, so they’ll be a challenge as well.”

Knoch girls at a glance

Coach: Shane McGraw

Last year’s record: 15-10 (7-5 Section 1-4A)

Returning starters: Karlee Buterbaugh (Sr., G), Neah Ewing (Jr., G), Aubrey Spencer (So., F)

Top newcomers: Jada Burgard (Jr., G), Liv Foster (So., G), Jocelyn Szebalskie (Fr., F)

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

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