Knoch succeeding with stress on defense
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch has the type of defense that wears an opponent out.
Just ask Freeport.
“Their full-court press was very good to start the game,” Yellowjackets girls hoops coach Mallory Ketterer said after a recent loss to the Knights. “It gave us problems. Even in the half-court, their pressure was great. They’re a great defensive team and we did not handle the pressure well — way too many turnovers, never got into an offensive rhythm.
“It’s exhausting to play that way.”
Freeport had a medley of wayward passes and ill-advised decisions in Knoch’s 52-27 home win. The fragmented effort was a product of the Knights’ enthusiastic badgering.
“If you can play defense, you’re in every game,” first-year Knights coach Shane McGraw said. “You’ve got to have some talent to play defense — and we’ve got girls that are talented, that are hungry, and can defend. They buy in. We work a lot in practice just day to day.”
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Knoch's Karlee Buterbaugh, 12, works against Freeport's defense during Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch's Karlee Buterbaugh, 12, lays up a bucket during Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch's Naturelle Ewing, 15, inbounds early in the second half on Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch's Lauren Bowser, 22, is congratulated by teammates during Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch's Aubrey Spencer, 23, fights for a rebound during Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch's Naturelle Ewing, 15, drives to the net during Thursday's victory against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Aubrey Spencer takes a pass Thursday night against Freeport. Chris Leisie. Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knock's Olyvian Foster prepares to shoot on Thursday against Freeport. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knock girls on the bench resting during Thursday's game. Chris Leisie/Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knock beat Freeport decidedly Thursday night by a score of 52-27. Chris Leisie/Special to the Buter Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knoch High School basketball has a half-time tradition of tossing rubber ducks to center court for prizes. Chris Leisie. Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
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Knock coach Shane McGraw gives motivation and instructions to the girls during a break in the action. Chris Leisie. Special to the Butler Eagle. 1/25/24
Heading into Monday night’s WPIAL Section 1-4A home tilt with Derry Area, Knoch was allowing 34 points per game, the second-fewest in the grouping behind Greensburg Salem’s 31.4.
McGraw’s malleable group does wonders with what his coaching staff decides to deploy. Senior starters CeCe Kosecki, Adah Fuller, Naturelle Ewing all had multiple steals against the Yellowjackets.
“CeCe, Adah, and Nat just can guard the ball extremely well,” McGraw said. “Neah (Ewing) and Karlee (Buterbaugh) are great help-side defenders. It works well when you’ve got girls that can pressure the ball, make other girls worry about handling the ball rather than initiating their offense.
“We can kind of unleash those three to pressure and get after them that way.”
The team’s 1-2-2 press set gives teams a myriad of issues moving the ball. It hassled Freeport into 28 turnovers and cashed them in for 24 points.
“We have the personnel with Adah’s athleticism up top there,” McGraw said. “(She’s) extremely agile and nimble, long-armed, lanky. So, it makes it very difficult to make passes over the top.”
Kosecki and Naturelle Ewing patrol the wings and add a touch of chaos, and the unit is versed enough that it can seamlessly morph back into a half-court man approach.
“My whole high school career, defense has been our main thing,” Kosecki said. “We do shell drill for at least 20 minutes every day. Defense is definitely the biggest part of our game.”
Kosecki and Fuller tied for a game-high with five thefts apiece against the Yellowjackets. Kosecki prides herself with taking the ball away from the opposition.
“It’s my favorite,” Kosecki said. “That’s the main reason I play. On offense, we definitely move the ball a lot and it takes the whole team. But, on defense, especially since we do help defense, that’s our thing, mainly.
“It’s like a machine. We all have to move at the same time and know what we’re doing — and it really bonds us.”
Prior study of tendencies and mannerisms helps her with her pickpocketing skills.
“Watching film, I see what they like to do the most,” Kosecki said. “If they’re left-handed, I make sure that I know that ahead of time. I mainly watch their hips every time. That’s my favorite thing, is stealing.”
Knoch, which is 9-7 overall and 4-4 in section play as of Monday afternoon, currently holds on to a playoff spot. After Derry Area, the Knights still have conference meetings with Greensburg Salem, Valley, and North Catholic remaining.
Knoch lost to Greensburg Salem, 43-39, on the road on Jan. 8. A week later, the Knights bowed, 59-35, as they visited the Trojanettes. They did, however, bottle up North Catholic senior star Alayna Rocco for most of that contest.
Against Valley, Knoch permitted a season-low 12 points in between those defeats.
“Stats don’t lie,” Kosecki said. “Compared to games where we don’t have good defense, usually the games are closer (and) we end up losing. We know what it takes to win — and defense is definitely the most important.”
