BUFFALO TWP — The second half of the Section 1-4A schedule gives Freeport’s boys basketball team a chance to redeem itself.

Earlier this month, the Yellowjackets dropped three straight section meetings to Knoch, Highlands and Hampton.

“We had a bad stretch, but we see those teams again,” said Freeport coach Sean Devinney. “Hopefully, we can make the most of it.”

The ‘Jackets took the first step in making that happen Friday night as they outlasted Knoch, 47-45, at Freeport Middle School.

The Knights won the first meeting, 63-60, on Jan. 3. A loss Friday would have dropped the ‘Jackets (11-6, 3-3) to 2-4 in the section standings.

“This was such a huge win and we wanted it so bad,” said Freeport senior guard Dean Furer, who scored 14 points. “For the (playoff) seeding, against a rival ... we knew the consequences.”

Both teams struggled to score for much of the night and Knoch led 29-28 after three quarters. Freeport’s effort at the line (12 of 15) in the final period helped the hosts take the lead hold onto it.

“Those are big shots and it’s good to hear because we’ve struggled in that area this season,” Devinney said. “We had guys step up tonight.”

Gavin Croney’s free throw with five seconds left in the game gave Freeport a two-point lead. After inbounding the ball, Knoch’s Jackson Bauman attempted an off-balance shot at the other end that didn’t fall.

“We were hoping to get guys to the corner and have someone drive and kick it out,” said Knoch coach Alan Bauman. “We had three freshmen on the court at the end and they’d never been in that situation.

“The physicality of the game hurt us, I thought it favored Freeport. But we battled and I’m so proud of our kids.”

Though the Knights (5-12, 3-3) last enjoyed a lead at 31-30 with six and a half minutes left, they remained on Freeport’s tail the rest of the game. Four combined free throws from Zach Clark and Croney and a bucket from Ben Lane pushed Freeport’s edge to 36-31 with 4:18 remaining, but Knoch answered.

Jackson Bauman completed a pair of conventional 3-point plays, the second one cutting the ‘Jacket lead to 39-37 with 3:12 left.

Bauman had a chance to make it three such sequences, but missed a free throw with 25 seconds left.

Teegan Finucan paced Knoch with 17 points and Bauman netted 15.

Croney scored 15 for Freeport.

“We played the defense we know how to play and we did it the entire game,” said Devinney. “If you can hold a team in the 40s, hopefully you can score enough to win and we did tonight.”

KNOCH 45

Teegan Finucan 6 2-4 17, Jackson Bauman 6 2-4 15, Kaden Spencer 3 2-2 8, Zarian Finucan 2 0-1 5, Zane Pacek 0 0-0 0, James Snyder 0 0-0 0, Derek Lang 0 0-0 0, Gasparo Porco 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-11 45.

FREEPORT 47

Dean Furer 5 4-5 14, Zach Clark 1 2-2 4, Ben Lane 2 0-0 4, Parker Lucas 2 0-0 4, Gavin Croney 3 7-9 15, Brady Stivenson 1 0-0 2, Gavin Glista 1 2-2 4, Brady Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 15-18 47.

Knoch 7 8 14 16 — 45

Freeport 10 10 8 19 — 47

3-point goals: Knoch 5 (T.Finucan 3, Bauman, Z.Finucan); Freeport 2 (Croney 2).

Tuesday: Freeport at Highlands; Greensburg Salem at Knoch