Knoch boys use balanced scoring, physical approach to top Highlands

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, December 19, 2025 | 9:57 PM

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Roman DeFelice can see how the Knoch boys basketball team has been ready for the dialed-up intensity that comes with section play. The Knights’ demanding nonconference schedule already has put them through the ringer.

Knoch leaned on its physicality on the boards to beat Highlands, 58-37, in a Section 1-4A battle Friday night at Highlands High School

“It prepared us well. We played some physical teams,” said DeFelice, who scored a team-high 14 points. “The physicality shows itself on defense. We’ve stepped it up since then.”

Knoch (4-2, 3-0) has played New Castle, Lincoln Park and Butler, and coach Joe Lafko has seen the progress.

“The kids are resilient,” Lafko said. “We learned from some things we did early on. I saw marked improvement from the Lincoln Park game to the New Castle game, which was our third game. We are rebounding well.”

Knoch’s willingness to go to the rim resulted in plenty of good scoring opportunities in the first quarter. The Knights shot 75% (9 of 12) from the field and were in the bonus.

Overall, Knoch has a strong balance on offense. Teegan Finucan (13 points), Vincent Defelice (12) and Liam Avon finished in double figures for the Knights.

Highlands coach Mike Foster said he expected Knoch to be aggressive.

“We had that on the board that they would drive to the hoop,” Foster said. “We had to be aware of that. We had to know where the shooters were after they drove. We have to do a better job of identifying that.”

The Knights opened the game on a 9-0 run before a 3-pointer from Ty Hall got the Golden Rams on the board. Hall finished with 12 points and was the lone Golden Rams (4-3, 1-1) scorer to reach double figures.

Knoch led by 18 points after the end of the first quarter and had the lead out to 26-6 before Highlands could chip away.

“We were taking care of the ball well,” Roman Defelice said. “Our big guys, Liam (Avon) and Derek (Lang), rebounded well in the paint. Defensively, we were making it tough on them to get fast-break opportunities.”

Golden Rams coach Mike Foster said this was the third game in a row Highlands started slow. After Highlands battled back to cut the lead to 32-22 by halftime, the Golden Rams suffered another four-minute scoring drought to open the second half.

“Those types of stretches and droughts can’t happen,” Foster said. “We have to continue to execute and trust our teammates. That’s one thing we didn’t do today, and we didn’t do it against Mars. We have to move the basketball.”

Lafko said he is happy with how Knoch played Friday. He is hoping to see things continue to move forward.

“We executed well in parts today,” Lafko said. “Especially early on, we were able to establish what we wanted to on the interior.”

Tags: Highlands, Knoch