WPIAL boys basketball playoffs: Knoch punches ticket to state tournament for first time since 2004
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Teegan Finucan (21) takes it to the rim in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Vinnie DeFelice (30) attempts to shoot over Deer Lakes’ Evan Moore (24) in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch defeated Deer Lakes 56-42 in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Jackson Bauman celebrates during the 56-42 win over Deer Lakes in the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball fifth-place game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at Knoch High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
JEFFERSON TWP — The drought is over.
Junior point guard Jackson Bauman poured in 21 points and 10 rebounds while Knoch’s defense proved dominant inside in posting a 56-42 WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball consolation victory over Deer Lakes on Wednesday night.
Knoch’s win on its home floor hands the Knights (19-7) the fifth and final WPIAL 4A state tourney qualifying berth. Knoch is headed to the PIAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years.
“The state playoffs has been a goal since the start of the season,” Bauman said. “It feels great to get there.”
The Knights never trailed while defeating the Lancers (18-7) for the second time in three tries this season. Their biggest lead was 21 points (44-23 in the third quarter) and Knoch maintained a double-digit lead through the final three quarters.
“One thing we wanted to do tonight was start fast,” Knoch coach Alan Bauman said. “That was important. We built a nice lead early and took control of the game. Deer Lakes had a physical grinding type of game Monday (53-50 win over Central Valley) and we didn’t have that type of game.
“I thought we might be the fresher team and we wanted to take advantage of that.”
A four-point play by Jackson Bauman gave the Knights an 11-4 lead less than five minutes into the game. A four-point play by Derek Lang hiked that margin to 26-12 midway through the second quarter. A trey by sophomore Brody Bauman gave Knoch a 29-13 edge with 1:52 left in the half.
“They hit their shots early and we didn’t,” Deer Lakes coach Albie Fletcher said. “They were physical with us underneath ... a lot of bumping as we went to the basket. We took the physical contact, but didn’t finish.”
Knoch’s defense blocked numerous shots inside all night - including four by seven-footer Zane Pacek - and limited the Lancers to just one field goal in the third quarter. Deer Lakes shot 25% - 8 of 32 - through the first three quarters.
“We’ve got some big guys down low and Coach always tells us not to jump,” 6-foot-4 sophomore forward Liam Avon said. “We were getting in foul trouble earlier in the year doing that, but we’re playing much better in that regard now.”
Vinnie DeFelice came off the bench to score 10 points for the Knights. Teegan Finucan had nine points and Avon had six rebounds.
Evan Moore paced Deer Lakes with 12 points and five rebounds. J.T. McCue had 11 points while 6-4 senior forward Nate Moore contributed nine points and 10 rebounds. Moore averages close to 20 points per game for the Lancers, but got in foul trouble Wednesday. Fellow starter Luca Mangieri wound up fouling out of the ame.
“We had some tough calls go against us, but that’s part of the game,” Fletcher said. “It’s hard getting offense inside against Knoch, especially in this game. Hats off to them. They played a great defensive game.”
Now the Knights get to play some more basketball.
“It’s important for our guys to get to states and experience that this year,” Coach Bauman said. “We have a bunch of juniors and sophomores on this team and it’s a stepping stone kind of thing.
“When these guys were freshmen, the goal was to get to the WPIAL playoffs. Last year, we fell a game short of qualifying for states. Now we’ve gotten there and this team will be back next year as well.”
Knoch starts four juniors and a sophomore. Balie Nowak, a reserve guard, is the only senior on the team.
“We’re moving on and we’re excited about what’s next,” Coach Bauman said.
DEER LAKES 42
J.T. McCue 3-9 4-6 11, Collin Rodgers 2-8 1-4 5, Luca Mangieri 1-4 3-4 5, Dante Mangieri 0-0 0-0 0, Noah Shurina 0-0 0-0 0, Evan Moore 4-9 4-4 12, Nate Moore 3-8 3-4 9. Totals: 13-38 15-22 42.
KNOCH 56
Derek Lang 2-5 1-2 6, Jackson Bauman 7-14 7-8 21, Brody Bauman 1-5 2-2 5, Roman DeFelice 0-1 0-0 0, Teegan Finucan 4-6 0-1 9, Liam Avon 1-5 0-0 2, Vinnie DeFelice 3-6 3-4 10, Zane Pacek 1-1 1-2 3. Totals: 19-43 14-19 56.
Deer Lakes 7 11 10 14 - 42
Knoch 18 13 16 9 - 56
3-point goals: Deer Lakes 1 (McCue), Knoch 4 (Lang, B.Bauman, Finucan, V.DeFelice)
Next: Knoch in PIAA 4A Tournament, date, site and time TBA
