Knoch’s Jackson Bauman headlines Valley News Dispatch boys basketball all-stars

By: Michael Love
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 7:15 PM

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Jackson Bauman

6-2, Jr., PG, Knoch

When everything was on the line for the Knoch boys basketball team, Jackson Bauman shined.

A heart-and-soul player for the Knights, Bauman came up big as his team faced elimination against section rival Deer Lakes in the WPIAL Class 4A fifth-place game with a trip to the PIAA tournament on the line.

Bauman scored a game-high 21 points, added 10 rebounds and dished out five assists as Knoch kept its season alive with a 56-42 victory.

The Knights were off to the state playoffs for the first time since 2006.

“That game was so emotional with what was on the line,” said Bauman, who led the team this season with 16 points a game to go along with five assists and six rebounds a contest.

“As a team, it was our goal all year to make the state playoffs. Being able to do that against a rival and on our home court was awesome. The environment, it was pretty much a sold-out game, it was so much fun. When we lost to Avonworth (in the WPIAL quarterfinals), it motivated us so much knowing what was still out there to achieve. We wanted to go out there and make history.”

Jackson was able to be a steadying force in that pressure situation.

“Nothing in the moment phased him,” said Alan Bauman, who resigned as Knoch coach this week.

“He made the right decisions throughout the night. He rebounded the ball really well. He just did all the little things for us to get that win.”

From the first game of the season, a tough loss against Class 5A Moon, to the PIAA playoff game in Erie against state power Cathedral Prep, Jackson Bauman made a difference on the stat sheet and as a leader for a Knoch squad with only one senior on the roster.

For his efforts, he has been tabbed the Valley News Dispatch Boys Basketball Player of the Year among a group of worthy candidates that includes Deer Lakes senior Nathaniel Moore and Kiski Area senior Colin Keller.

“Jackson was our floor general,” Alan Bauman said.

“When he needed to score, he scored. When he needed to be the facilitator, he did that very well. He did a great job of helping everyone be comfortable and get great shots throughout the year.”

Knoch saw its season come to a tough end with a 70-57 loss to Cathedral Prep.

“It was awesome to be in that game against a really good team in Cathedral Prep,” Jackson Bauman said.

“We knew we were going to have to play our very best to beat them. We just didn’t that night, but it didn’t take away all that we accomplished this season.”

Knoch, which defeated Deer Lakes two out of three times this season, finished runner-up to North Catholic in Section 1 at 10-2. The Knights won 19 of the 27 games they played, averaged 62.3 points and gave up just 47.2.

Jackson Bauman said he appreciated the opportunity to score the basketball but also relished getting others involved.

“When my teammates were in a rhythm, I was in a rhythm,” he said.

“I always enjoyed seeing my teammates’ success. To be successful, everyone had to contribute. We had a lot of great team victories, and winning is what we looked for the most. I was pleased to be able to do my part.”

Alan Bauman said he saw a positive change in the point guard for this season.

“Jackson really grew up from his sophomore to junior seasons with learning how to control his passion and also learning how to motivate kids in practice,” Alan Bauman said.

“He’s such a leader of setting the tone and make sure kids go hard on every play and every drill. He also knew what to do or what to say to give kids confidence.”

Jackson Bauman said he’s excited for the next step for Knoch boys basketball.

“We can’t get too ahead of ourselves,” he said. “We have to take it one step at a time and work towards our goals for next season. North Catholic will be good again with a lot back, and Deer Lakes always is right there. We know what we need to do to be ready. It will take a lot of hard work.”

First team all-stars

Tucker Bitar

5-11, Sr., G, Burrell

Bitar was an unquestioned team leader and the heart of the Burrell offense to the tune of 16 points a game. He also was able to find his teammates for points and was a difference maker on defense. Also a VND first-team selection last year, he surpassed 1,000 career points this season and finished as the third-leading scorer in program history.

Teegan Finucan

6-2, Jr., G/F, Knoch

Finucan was another main cog in the machine which fueled the Knights to 19 total wins and a runner-up finish (10-2) to North Catholic (11-1) in Section 1-4A. A third-team VND selection last year, he finished second to Bauman in scoring at 14 points a game and also provided three assists a game. Finucan will be part of a strong returning core for Knoch in 2025-26.

Caden Kaiser

6-2, Sr., F, Fox Chapel

Kaiser produced a lot for a Foxes squad which made its mark in Section 1-6A with a runner-up finish to New Castle and a trip to the WPIAL playoffs. He led the team in scoring at 16 points a game, in rebounds at 7.6 a contest while averaging 3.5 assists and two steals a game. Kaiser’s efforts were rewarded with selection to the all-section first team.

Colin Keller

6-1, Sr., G, Kiski Area

Keller had a big season for the Cavaliers and helped bring home the program’s first section title since 2012-13. He scored a game-high 22 points at Penn Hills in a 68-61 victory Feb. 7, which clinched the outright Section 2-5A crown. Keller, who averaged 16.2 points a game as a senior, was honored with a spot on the all-section first team.

Nathaniel Moore

6-4, Sr., F, Deer Lakes

Moore repeats as a VND first-team all-star after a season in which he helped lead Deer Lakes to 18 wins, a third-place finish in a rugged Section 1-4A, a spot in the WPIAL quarterfinals, and one win away from the PIAA tournament. He fronted the team in scoring (19.8) and rebounds (12.7). He scored a season-best 35 points against Mohawk.

Second team

Troy Bielak

6-4, Jr., G/F, Highlands

Max Grice

6-4, Sr., F, Plum

Carson Heinle

6-3, Sr., F, Kiski Area

Collin Rodgers

5-9, Jr., G, Deer Lakes

Asher White

6-3, Sr., G, Fox Chapel

Third team

Will Beckner

5-8, Sr., G, Plum

Derek Lang

6-7, Jr., F, Knoch

Brady Rochkind

6-2, Jr., F, Cheswick Christian

Alex Schultheis

6-5, Sr., F/C, Riverview

Robby Simmen

6-1, So., PG, Springdale

Honorable mention

Mickael Allen, Sr., C, Valley; Zane Beatty, Jr., C/F, Apollo-Ridge; Ty Hall, Jr., G, Highlands; Carson Kane, Jr., G, Freeport; Ryan McCarthy, So., G, St. Joseph; J.T. McCue, Sr., G, Deer Lakes; Jacob Musselman, Sr., G, Kiski Area; Joseph Rosio, Jr., G, Cheswick Christian; Brady Rollinger, Sr., G, Leechburg

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Cheswick Christian, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley