Knoch boys unfazed by sudden offseason changes

By: John Grupp
Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 5:19 PM

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This offseason, the Knoch boys basketball team unexpectedly lost its coach, its best player and the only 7-footer in program history.

But the Knights, last year’s WPIAL Class 4A preseason No. 1, believe they might be even better.

“We’ve overcome so much adversity in the past years,” said 6-foot senior guard Teegan Finucan, a four-year starter. “Even losing those guys, we are stronger than we’ve ever been. That goes from the coaching staff to players. We’re the best that we’ve been, and hopefully that is shown in the season.”

For sure, Knoch landed on its feet with its new coaching staff.

Joe Lafko, who went 489-251 in 28 seasons at Hampton, is returning to the sideline after a year away from the game. Lafko, 59, replaces Alan Bauman, who resigned for personal reasons after going 55-60 in five seasons. Lafko, a WPIAL Hall of Famer, had stepped down from Hampton in April 2024.

“It’s been great,” Finucan said. “The relationship between coach and player is better than I’ve ever had. He’s really been there for me, on the court and off the court. Not only is he an outstanding coach — and he has the resumé to prove it — but he’s just a great person.”

Knoch also lost Bauman’s two sons, all-section senior point guard Jackson Bauman and junior guard Brody, who both transferred to Moon. Jackson Bauman averaged 16 points last season and was named Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year.

On top of that, 7-foot, 260-pound senior center Zane Pacek opted to focus on baseball. The right-handed pitcher committed to Central Michigan baseball over the summer.

But the Knights return three starters from a team that went 19-8 and reached PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2006. Finucan, who last season averaged 14 points and three assists, 6-7 senior wing Derek Lang, who is recovering from a knee injury, and 6-3 senior forward Vinnie DeFelice are back.

“The energy has been really good,” Lafko said. “I’ve been really pleased with the leadership, especially the seniors.”

Knoch went 8-1 in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer league, losing to eventual champion Penn Hills in the playoffs. The Knights also played in PBC fall league and the New Castle Shootout earlier this month.

Lafko, hired in mid-May, is encouraged by the offseason work.

“One of the things that stood out to me (this fall) — and just reinforced what I saw this summer — is that this team is long,” he said. “They are athletic. They share the ball pretty well, and I also like their physicality.

“I think the length of the team and their ability to run the floor in transition, both offensively and defensively, are two areas that will help us as we go through the year.”

A pair of junior forwards, 6-5 Liam Avon and 6-4 Jackson McCool, provide inside size and athleticism. Junior Roman DeFelice is vying for the point guard job.

“In the offseason, it has kind of been a point guard by committee,” Lafko said. “We’re still working on that component.”

Finucan said the pressure of entering last season ranked No. 1 may have worn on the Knights, who lost in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals. But they won two WPIAL consolation games to reach the PIAA tournament and learned from the experience.

“I don’t know what happened there, whether we let that (No. 1 ranking) get to us or not,” he said. “We can’t take anything for granted. … Last year was our first time being the hunted team. I feel like that was the hardest part for us. Not that we didn’t have the skill to overcome any team we faced, which we did. It was more of the fact that we’d never been in that situation. Now that we have that under our belt, I really think that will propel us.”

Knoch boys at a glance

Coach: Joe Lafko

Last year’s record: 19-8 (10-2 Section 1-4A)

Returning starters: Teegan Finucan (Sr., G), Derek Lang (Sr., G/F), Vinnie DeFelice (Sr., F)

Others to watch: Liam Avon (Jr., F), Roman DeFelice (Jr., G), Evan Fink (Jr., G), Jackson McCool (Jr., F), Owen Gillis (Jr., G)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

11.28, at Lincoln Park, 7:30 p.m.

12.4, at Butler, 7:30 p.m.

12.6, at New Castle, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, Valley*, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

12.20, at Kiski Area#, 1:30 p.m.

12.26, TBD+, TBD

12.27, TBD+, TBD

12.29, Woodland Hills^, 2:30 p.m.

12.30, South Fayette^, 8:45 p.m.

1.6, Deer Lakes*, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

1.16, at Valley*, 7 p.m.

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

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

1.24, Obama Academy%, 6 p.m.

1.30, at Deer Lakes*, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

2.7, Aquinas Academy$, 4:30 p.m.

*Section game

#At La Roche University

+Plum holiday tournament

^CJ Betters tournament at Geneva

%PBC Classic at North Hills

$At North Allegheny

Tags: Knoch