North Catholic knocks out Knoch in PIAA boys basketball second round in 3OT classic
PLUM — This one was all it was cracked up to be.
North Catholic’s 77-69 triple-overtime PIAA Class 4A second-round triumph over WPIAL Section 1-4A foe Knoch may be remembered as one of the best matchups between Butler County boys hoops teams ever.
It was the fourth clash between the two crews this season.
The Trojans (21-6) advance to play District 12’s Carver E&S in the state quarterfinals Friday at a time and site to be determined.
Before then, North Catholic senior Jason Fredericks might need to sleep a while after pouring in a game-high 29 points and taking control late at Plum High School.
“I’m gonna go home and sleep,” Fredericks said. “Maybe go into school late.”
Joe Lafko’s Knights had to battle back from five down with 1:53 to go in regulation, then Liam Avon squared the score once more with 21 seconds remaining after North Catholic’s Jude Rottmann knocked down a pair of free throws.
Knoch dug itself out of holes late in each of the first two extra frames, too, before Fredericks took over and helped earn fellow senior Rottmann, who’d fouled out in the second overtime, one more game at least.
Fredericks nailed a 3-pointer on the first possession of the third overtime, then sank two from the free-throw line to make it 64-61. Tom Rottmann pick-pocketed the Knights soon after, leading to a Pickett dunk.
Knoch couldn’t claw its way back again, despite a pair of deep treys by Teegan Finucan, the program’s all-time leading scorer. Finucan finished with 26.
“I think I just needed to end it,” Fredericks said. “It was getting late. I just needed to end it.”
“We knew that they would fight,” North Catholic coach Jim Rocco said. “And we had to match that. And we did. And we made shots. … They’re just tough kids, man.”
Knoch had beaten the Trojans 70-46 in the district semifinal last month.
“It was hard for us,” Fredericks said. “Losing by almost 30 points, it took a beating to our heart. But we knew we had to come back, no matter what.”
The Knights finish the season with a 23-5 record, its first WPIAL Class 4A crown and a strong case for being the best boys team their school has ever produced.
“I told them in the locker room how proud I was of them, and that they will be able to recognize at some point the legacy they left this year,” Lafko said. “I’m proud to be their coach and proud of the season that they had.
“We just faced a really good team.”
NORTH CATHOLIC 77
Jude Rottmann 6 3-4 18, Tom Arth 1 0-0 2, Jason Fredericks 7 11-14 29, Pickett 3 6-8 12, Tom Rottmann 1 2-2 5, Regan 0 0-0 0, Olkowski 3 2-2 11, Campbell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 24-30 77.
KNOCH 69
Derek Lang 4 3-6 11, Jackson McCool 0 0-0 0, Evan Fink 0 0-0 0, Roman DeFelice 3 3-4 9, Teegan Finucan 7 8-13 26, Liam Avon 3 2-2 8, Vinnie DeFelice 5 5-9 15. Totals: 22 21-34 69.
North Catholic 15 12 6 15 6 5 18 — 77
Knoch 14 13 8 13 6 5 10 — 69
3-point goals: Knoch 4 (Finucan 4); North Catholic (Fredericks 4, T. Rottmann, Olkowski 3
Friday: PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal, North Catholic vs. Carver E&S, at site/time TBD
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North Catholic celebrates its 77-69 win over Knoch in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Plum High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Jason Fredericks, left, and Jude Rottmann celebrate their 77-69 win over Knoch in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Plum High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic’s Brandon Pickette (10) shoots a 3-pointer in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Plum High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Vincent DeFelice (30) dribbles the ball around North Catholic’s Jude Rottmann (1) in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Plum High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Knoch’s Teegan Finucan (21) shoots over a North Catholic defender in a PIAA Class 4A boys basketball second-round game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Plum High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
