If Emily Knouse gets the ball, good things happen.
During Tuesday's PIAA 5A semifinal, Archbishop Wood primarily relied on passing to Knouse in the first half. Knouse's strong performance, along with excellent defense from Lauren Greer, put Wood on track for success.
Knouse's 26-point game helped the Vikings defeat Bethlehem Catholic 53-30, advancing Wood to its fourth consecutive state title game.
Knouse said she took advantage of the defense's weaknesses and her teammates' good passes to score.
Knouse scored Wood's first basket and then scored 10 consecutive points to end the first quarter. She continued with back-to-back baskets in the second quarter, resulting in a personal 14-0 run that exceeded Becahi's first-half offensive output.
Throughout the season, Knouse has displayed a wider range of offensive skills, including high post jumpers, drives, rip-throughs, and post work, in addition to her accurate perimeter shooting.
Knouse mentioned that her offensive skills developed over time, particularly with getting to the basket and the foul line.
Wood coach Mike McDonald noted Knouse's consistent scoring in all four state playoff games. Knouse had 20 points at halftime and nearly scored a deep three at the buzzer, giving Wood a strong 28-13 lead.
McDonald observed Knouse's growth as a junior, expressing admiration for her ability to score in various ways.
After halftime, Knouse quickly assisted Lauren Greer in scoring a three-pointer. Greer's impact on the game was far beyond her single basket.
During a team huddle, Wood assistant Ray Horn emphasized the importance of stopping point guard Cici Hernandez, the dynamic player for the District 11 champs.
Greer has faced tough assignments throughout the year and was determined not to fail this test.
Greer prepared for the game by studying film and focusing on specific strategies to defend against Hernandez's shooting ability and playmaking skills.
Hernandez ended with five points and only managed to make two shots out of 11 attempts. Preventing her from scoring also prevented her from creating plays. It was notable that in Wood’s team room after the game, Knouse did not receive the first shout-out.
McDonald mentioned Lauren Greer first, saying, “Until the last minute before we got subs in, she was up there fullcourt trying to make it difficult for (Hernandez) to even get the ball in-bounds. This had a significant impact on the game.”
Wood will go to the Giant Center on Saturday to try for a fourth consecutive state title. No girls’ program has achieved this since Allentown Central Catholic from 2001-04, and despite its success at the state level, Wood has never accomplished this.
The Vikings will have a challenging match against District 10 winner Cathedral Prep, a team that Wood has encountered several times in Hershey.
McDonald said, “The seniors don’t want it to end, they wanted to get to Hershey and do it, and they’ve played like it. It’s a great group, everybody is committed. They're confident, engaged, and doing whatever it takes to play an additional game. I expect the same on Saturday in Hershey.”
Archbishop Wood 53, Bethlehem Catholic 30
Archbishop Wood 14 14 14 11 — 53
Bethlehem Catholic 8 5 13 4 — 30
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.
