Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for Feb. 16, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 4:32 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball teams of the week – Knoch Knights

Coach – Alan Bauman (fifth season)

Records – 17-6 overall, 10-2 in Section 1-4A

#Earned – Knoch entered the final week of the regular season with a chance to earn at least a share of the Section 1-4A title, however a heartbreaking loss to North Catholic, in a game in which they led most of the way, ended that goal. However, the Knights didn’t pout. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and ended the regular season on a strong note with back-to-back wins over section rival Freeport, 76-35, and a South Allegheny team that is the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A playoffs, 62-59. When the Class 4A brackets came out Monday, Knoch was the No. 5 seed in a 12-team tournament and opened up Friday at home against West Mifflin. It was not the start the Knoch expected, as it fell behind early, 8-1, and trailed after the opening quarter, 9-7. However, it was all Knights after that as they outscored the Titans the rest of the way, 49-14, to cruise to a 56-23 win. The Knoch defense, No. 2 in Class 4A, allowed only one field goal and four total points in the second half.

Scoring stars – Knoch was the Trib HSSN preseason No. 1 team in Class 4A after a successful 2024 season in which it knocked off Beaver in the first round before losing to eventual champion Lincoln Park in the quarterfinals. Knoch had four juniors returning to the starting lineup in 6-foot-3 Jackson Bauman, 6-2 Teegan Finucan, 6-8 Derrick Long and 7-0 Zane Pacek. In the playoff win against West Mifflin, Jackson Bauman, the son of head coach Alan Bauman, doubled his scoring average of 15.6 points per game by scoring 16 of the Knights’ first 20 points and ended up with a game-high 30 points. Finucan added 12 points for the Knights.

Last year – As mentioned above, last year was a breakout season for a tall and talented, but young and inexperienced group on the varsity level. The Knights won their first four games and later put together a six-game winning streak. Knoch would only win two of its final seven games to finish 15-11 overall. The Knights finished in second place in Section 1-4A, three games behind section-winner Hampton. Following the loss to Lincoln Park in the district quarterfinals, the Knights failed to qualify for the PIAA postseason with losses to North Catholic and Montour in the Class 4A consolation rounds. However, the team improved from an 8-15 record in 2023, and the foundation was set for success this season and beyond.

Remember when – The Knoch boys basketball program has never claimed gold on the hardwood, but it came close to stunning the masses just over two decades ago. At the end of the 2004 regular season, the Knights were the No. 11 seed in a 14-team Class 3A postseason tournament after a third-place finish in Section 1-3A, three games behind Valley and four games back from section champion Burrell. In the first round, Knoch pulled off the first of three straight upsets, knocking off No. 6 Keystone Oaks, 71-59. In the quarterfinals, the Knights shocked No. 3 Uniontown, 60-52, and then followed up with a semifinal stunner over No. 2 Thomas Jefferson, 58-53. The district magic ran out on Knoch when it lost at the A.J. Palumbo Center at Duquesne in the 3A finals to top-seeded Moon, 63-46. It was the first of three straight district crowns for the Tigers. In the first round of the state playoffs, Knoch lost to Central Cambria, 55-52. That Knights team was coached by Les Shoop, and one of the top players was his son, Jordan Shoop.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 6 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 5 – Jeannette Jayhawks

Week 4 – Baldwin Highlanders

Week 3 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 2 – New Castle Red Hurricanes

Week 1 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Tags: Knoch