Knoch senior’s career-high 28 points leads Knights into state playoffs
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch girls basketball coach Shane McGraw already knew that Adah Fuller was an indispensable member of the team, but he was still impressed with her performance Monday night.
The senior forward scored a career-high 28 points to pace the Knights to a 60-40 victory over Central Valley in a WPIAL Class 4A consolation game at Knoch High School.
“She’s the kind of kid who’s the first to show up to the gym and the last to leave,” McGraw said of Fuller. “She’s the ultimate teammate and she was awesome tonight.”
A loss would have ended Knoch’s season and the high school careers of the team’s four seniors, including Fuller.
“I have to admit, I was dealing with some nerves before this one,” she said. “But to know that we are going to states, it’s huge.”
Fuller was just one free throw shy of a trio of conventional 3-point plays in the second half. She scored five points in Knoch’s 13-0 run that ended the competitive aspect of the game, pushing the Knights’ advantage to 57-35 with 2:30 left in the game.
The Warriors (12-12) had trailed by double digits the entire second half until Isabella Miller started hitting treys. One cut Knoch’s lead to 41-32 with 5:52 left. Her next one got the deficit back to nine points, 44-35, with 5:20 remaining. Miller’s nine points in the game led Central Valley.
“We knew coming in that she can hit the outside shot,” said McGraw. “It’s a bit disappointing that we lost her, but we have a resilient group and they answered with that run.”
Knoch (15-10) had control early on. Fuller netted nine of her points in the first quarter and had 16 by halftime. Meanwhile, the Warriors were struggling getting the ball past midcourt. They turned the ball over 21 times in the first half alone against Knoch’s pressure.
“We were confident we could make them uncomfortable right from the start,” Fuller said. “Defense is what we focus most on in practice and we’re intense. It’s hard for other teams to handle.”
Central Valley had just four field goals in the opening half. Its first make of the second quarter came from Kylie Godshall with 3:10 left before halftime, cutting Knoch’s lead to 21-8.
Karlee Buterbaugh added 16 points in the victory.
Knoch will face a very familiar opponent in Thursday’s battle for fifth place — section foe Highlands. The loser will enter the state tournament as the WPIAL’s sixth-place team.
Highlands won both meetings against Knoch in the regular season.
CENTRAL VALLEY 40
Maddie Spirnak 1 0-0 2, Kylie Godshall 3 0-0 6, Isabella Miller 3 0-0 9, Dominique Douglas 2 0-0 6, Nyah Hayes 2 2-4 7, Lily Seese 1 0-0 2, Ahley Bible 2 0-0 4, Caroline Spirnak 1 0-0 2, Madison McIlroy 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 2-4 40.
KNOCH 60
Adah Fuller 11 5-6 28, Neah Ewing 3 0-0 9, Karlee Buterbaugh 6 4-6 16, Naturelle Ewing 0 2-4 2, Lauren Bowser 1 0-0 3, Olyvian Foster 0 2-2 2, Abigail Hawk 0 0-0 0, Aubrey Spencer 0 0-0 0, Savanna Hawk 0 0-0 0, Jada Burgard 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 13-18 60.
Central Valley 6 4 14 16 — 40
Knoch 13 12 14 21 — 60
3-point goals: Central Valley 6 (Miller 3, Douglas 2, Hayes); Knoch 5 (Ne.Ewing 3, Fuller, Bowser).
Thursday: Knoch vs. Highlands, WPIAL Class 4A fifth-place game, TBA
