City of Basketball Love

Andrew Robinson (@ADrobinson3)
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NORRISTOWN — It was around midseason when Mike McDonald really started to notice it. 

Emily Knouse wasn’t just a shooter anymore. There was a lot more to the Archbishop Wood junior’s game on both ends of the floor, but noticeably on offense where Knouse was emerging as a weapon.

Tuesday night at Norristown High School, the growth in Knouse’s game was on display as the Vikings downed Bethlehem Catholic 53-30 to secure a spot in the PIAA Class 5A girls basketball championship game.

“She started driving, ripping, posting up and scoring in that area, and now she just has the confidence to do it all,” McDonald said. “It’s incredible growth for her as a junior, and it’s been so impressive to watch her game grow throughout this season; she can score in all different facets now."

Knouse had 26 points, the 6-foot St. Joe’s recruit continuing her trend of leading Wood offensively in every state playoff game so far. But what impressed most was more how she did it, mixing her potent perimeter game with some interior work and an aggressive approach that put her on the foul line, to shred the Hawks’ defense.

For reference, Becahi came in allowing 32 points per game during the state playoffs. With her teammates off the mark in the first half, Knouse went to work by scoring 10 straight to end the first quarter and the first four of the second.

“I was just taking what they were giving me, they were switching it up it seemed to be every other possession,” Knouse said. “They seemed to have a little bit of trouble guarding those flare screens, and my teammates do a great job of passing right on the line to me. I just happened to be knocking them down.”

The junior couldn’t pinpoint when the metamorphosis came about either, just noting she was still basically a perimeter player all fall. Whenever it happened, Bethlehem Catholic likely wished it hadn’t.

Knouse nearly connected on long 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer but settled for 20 points and a 28-13 lead. Senior Ava Renninger had the other eight points for Wood, but it wasn’t like their teammates weren’t chipping in.

Senior guard Lauren Greer had three points and provided every bit the impact of Knouse. Greer was the lead defender on the Hawks’ leader, senior Cici Hernandez, holding the dynamic guard to five points on 2-of-11 shooting.

“When we were in our huddle yesterday after practice, our assistant, Coach Ray (Horn), said the key to this game would be stopping (Hernandez),” Greer said. “Preparing for this game today in school, I was watching film and I was trying to pinpoint certain things she did and make sure I was prepared.”

Greer stressed the impromptu film study came in a free period, but she was locked in on her assignment regardless.

“I could tell from watching games she’s a shooter, so I tried to ride her off the 3-point line,” Greer said. “I knew if she curled and got around where I chased her over top she’d be shooting a jumper, so I tried to stay on that and not leave my feet.”

Knouse was 6 of 10 from the field (2 of 6 from 3) in the first half. The junior came out of halftime assisting Greer on a 3, then added two more 3-pointers of her own to round off the 26 points.

It’s been an all-around season of growth for Knouse. As the tallest player in Wood’s main rotation, she’s played as the big by default and McDonald also noted her improvement defensively and as a rebounder. Knouse added 10 boards Tuesday.

“It’s something I worked on, getting to the basket and now that I’m the big, some post moves,” Knouse said with a grin. “I didn’t want to be a one-dimensional player. I wanted them to respect the 3 but also if they were playing good defense, I wanted to be able to get to the basket.”

Knouse credited Greer’s defense as something that helped her improve offensively. Conversely, Greer chimed in some props for her teammate.

“She’s so good at making her own shots,” Greer said. “Whether it’s ripping to the basket or setting up so her girl is hitting a screen to get herself open, she’s really good at that and showed it in this game.”

Bechai found a spark in the third, scoring nine straight points after Wood had taken a 40-17 lead. The Vikings withstood the run, then methodically took care of business in the fourth quarter before the starting five got their call to the bench with about a minute to go.

Wood is back in Hershey for the fourth straight year, the Vikings questing after a fourth consecutive state title. They will be up against a difficult task in District 10 champ Cathedral Prep, a program they’ve seen a few times in the final under its old name of Villa Maria. Cathedral Prep beat District 7’s McKeesport 35-20 in Tuesday’s other semifinal.

“It’s always a huge goal — first to win the PCL, then to win states,” Knouse said. “We just talked about it with the girls, everything we get to do and the experience of being up there, and they’re just so excited.”

By Quarter

Archbishop Wood: 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 || 53

Bethlehem Catholic: 8 | 5 | 13 | 4 || 30

Scoring

Archbishop Wood: Emily Knouse 26, Ava Renninger 14, Alexa Windish 6, Lauren Greer 3, Makayla Finnegan 2, Sophia Topakas 2

Bethlehem Catholic: Aliyah Brame 11, Akasha Santos 10, Cici Hernandez 5, Daviana Jones 5

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PIAA 5A Girls

Semifinals (Tue., March 19)
12-1 Archbishop Wood 53, 11-1 Bethlehem Catholic 30
10-1 Cathedral Prep 35, 7-3 McKeesport 20

Championship at Giant Center (Sat., March 23)
12-1 Archbishop Wood vs. 10-1 Cathedral Prep, 6 p.m.