Defense holds key for Knoch girls basketball

By: John Grupp
Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 5:14 PM

The Knoch girls basketball team is facing another season of trying to win without much offense.

Forty-two WPIAL teams averaged fewer than 36 points a game last season, and Knoch was the only one with a winning record.

“We are going to struggle to score,” coach Shane McGraw said. “Defense is really what we hang our hat on. We have struggled to score in the past. We are relying on defense, especially early in the year, and hoping the offense will catch on.”

The Knights return four starters, including all-section senior guard Neah Ewing, from a 12-11 team that reached the WPIAL playoffs for the eighth consecutive season despite averaging only 35.8 points.

After a five-year stretch with at least one WPIAL playoff victory, the Knights lost to No. 8 seed Laurel Highlands in the opening round. It snapped a three-year run of qualifying for the PIAA tournament.

“It was very dissatisfying,” McGraw said. “To go early (in the playoffs) left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. … It ended rather abruptly.”

Senior guard Jada Burgard, junior guard Aubrey Spencer and 5-foot-10 sophomore forward Jocelyn Szebalskie join Ewing as returning starters. Ewing averaged a team-best 10 points last season, and the Knights are counting on Spencer to provide a second scoring option.

“We have mostly everyone back from last year, and we know what to expect,” Ewing said. “We have big plans and big goals.”

They don’t have a big roster, with only 10 players and one freshman. Last season, they had 14 players with six freshmen.

Because depth will be an issue, the Knights committed themselves to conditioning this offseason. McGraw, in his third season, ramped up workouts to ensure his players are as fit as possible.

“Right off the get-go, coach was saying how we are going to be sprinting a lot more this year,” Ewing said. “We kind of all expected it. The conditioning has definitely been a lot harder, but it is paying off immensely. Everyone is very excited that we are getting into shape a lot faster this year, even if it is harder.”

Knoch was also busy away from practice. The Knights played in the Fox Chapel summer and fall leagues and attended a two-day West Virginia team camp in mid-June. They reached the semifinals of one tournament at WVU.

“In the offseason, we really focused on shooting and getting better with the ball in our hands and limiting turnovers,” McGraw said. “Turnovers were a big issue (last season).”

Liv Foster, a 5-5 junior, will take over at point guard for the Knights.

“She had a pretty good summer,” McGraw said. “It was up and down, which you would expect only coming into her junior year, but I can see her getting better and better and more confident with the ball in her hands.”

Knoch went 10-4 in Section 1-4A last season, getting swept by WPIAL powers North Catholic and Oakland Catholic but going undefeated against everyone else in the section. The Knights figure to take a similar path to the playoffs this season.

“I’m very excited to see how we are going to go,” Ewing said, “and remember that no matter what, we are going to push ourselves and we are going to do it together.”

Knoch girls at a glance

Coach: Shane McGraw

Last year’s record: 12-11 (10-4 Section 1-4A)

Returning starters: Neah Ewing (Sr., G), Aubrey Spencer (Jr., G), Jocelyn Szebalskie (So., C), Jada Burgard (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Liv Foster (Jr., G), Sadie Hawk (Sr., F)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

11.28, TBD^, TBD

11.29, TBD^, TBD

12.2, Shaler, 7:30 p.m.

12.4, at Valley*, 5:30 p.m.

12.5, at Slippery Rock+, 6 p.m.

12.6, TBD+, 2 p.m.

12.8, at Mars, 7:30 p.m.

12.15, Burrell*, 7:30 p.m.

12.18, at Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.

12.22, at Oakland Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

1.2, Karns City, 7:30 p.m.

1.5, Derry*, 7:30 p.m.

1.8, at North Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

1.12, Freeport*, 7:30 p.m.

1.15, Valley*, 6:30 p.m.

1.19, at Burrell*, 7:30 p.m.

1.22, Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.

1.26, Oakland Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

1.29, at Derry*, 7:15 p.m.

2.2, North Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, at Freeport*, 7:30 p.m.

2.9, at Hampton, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Montour tip-off tournament

+Slippery Rock tournament

Tags: Knoch