Knoch boys beat Deer Lakes, keep section hopes alive
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Friday, January 31, 2025 | 9:57 PM
Knoch’s Vinnie DeFelice blocks the shot of Deer Lakes’ J.T. McCue on Friday.
Knoch’s J.T. McCue fouls Zane Pacek fouls Deer Lakes’ J.T. McCue on Friday.
Knoch’s Teegan Finucan hits a 3-pointer over Deer Lakes’ J.T. McCue on Friday.
Knoch’s Teegan Finucan fights for a rebound with Deer Lakes’ Brayden McCoy on Friday.
Knoch’s Derek Lang blocks the shot of Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore on Friday.
Knoch’s Teegan Finucan is fouled by Deer Lakes’ Evan Moore on Friday.
Knoch’s Teegan Finucan celebrates after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers against Deer Lakes in the second half Friday.
Knoch’s Derek Lang defends on Deer Lakes’ Luca Mangieri on Friday.
Knoch’s Liam Avon defends on Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore on Friday.
Knoch’s Jack McCool fouls Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore on Friday.
Deer Lakes’ Nathaniel Moore defends on Knoch’s Teegan Finucan on Friday.
Knoch’s Jack McCool defends on Deer Lakes’ Collin Rodgers on Friday.
Knoch boys basketball coach Alan Bauman was thrilled watching his team mature Friday night during a Section 1-4A contest with Deer Lakes at home.
Twice, the Lancers made extended runs in the third and fourth quarters to move within two points. Both times, Knoch dug deep and never returned the momentum, which is one area Bauman in which felt his team hadn’t excelled.
With the Knights’ 48-45 win, everything is still on the table for Knoch. The Knights can win the section crown outright by winning their final two games.
“We haven’t done that this year,” Bauman said. “You look at four of our five losses, we have been leading in the fourth quarter. (Against) Johnstown and Baldwin we needed one stop to win the game. We started to teeter, but we were able to get our composure back and finish.”
While Knoch (14-5, 9-1) had a few minor sweats at the end, the Knights built their cushion by pouncing on opportunities.
Deer Lakes forward Nathaniel Moore, who finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, was forced to the bench until the third quarter after recording his second foul with 6 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the half.
Knoch made every second hurt for Deer Lakes. The Knights were behind 15-9 when Moore went to the bench. Knoch turned up the pressure defensively and used the momentum to surge to a 20-17 halftime lead.
Jackson Bauman, who finished with a game-high 16 points, scored six during a 13-2 run to end the half. Bauman’s final field goal of the half put Knoch ahead 18-17. The Knights never gave the lead back.
“It took an offensive weapon out for them, and it was time for us to make a run,” Jackson Bauman said. “We did that. It worked out in our favor.”
Deer Lakes (16-4, 9-2) had a four-game winning streak snapped. The Lancers struggled to make shots during the second and third quarters. Deer Lakes only made 14 percent (1 of 7) of its 3-pointers and shot 22.2 percent (4 of 18) from the field during the middle quarters.
Lancers coach Albie Fletcher thought the Lancers defended well enough to stay in the game.
“I think second-half wise, they made bigger shots,” Fletcher said. “They had some looks, and we had some looks.”
Deer Lakes cut the lead to 26-24 by the middle of the third quarter following a layup by Luca Mangieri. Mangieri finished with 10 points for Deer Lakes.
But Teegan Finucan put a stop to the Lancers’ surge with consecutive 3-pointers. The second was from about four steps behind the line.
Finucan finished with 14 points and said his teammates’ confidence in him helps him make good decisions.
“Just my team,” Finucan said. “The confidence they have in me, growing up and playing with the same kids, this is a brotherhood.”
Knoch stretched its lead to 39-28 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Lancers battled back again. JT McCue made a layup to close a 10-0 run that cut the lead to one point with 3:20 remaining.
Knoch got a layup from Vinnie DeFelice to stretch the lead back to three points, and Deer Lakes got no closer the rest of the game.
When the pressure was on, the Knights showed they had learned from their past disappointments.
“It takes patience and knowledge as a basketball player,” Finucan said. “I showed sometimes I can be immature, and it’s the growing aspect we have to get better at.”
Tags: Deer Lakes, Knoch
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