Norwin Boys Basketball entered the season with high expectations despite losing senior contributors Luke Denny, Alex Wiggins, Dylan McCullough, and Noah Wilson. The Knights rely on a strong sophomore class from 2023-24. The Knights starting lineup starts four of those strong sophomores from last year. The Knights believe in a winning season after finishing last year 8-13 and in section-2-8. At this point in the season the Knights stand at 6-6 and 2-3 in their section, one game out of WPIAL playoff race.
The Knights are also storming into this season with a brand new coaching staff, led by former alumni including: head Coach Cam Auld; assistants Coach Gage McCracken and Zach Waszyn; as well as Greensburg Salem alumnus Coach Jerry Cooley Jr.
Coach Cam Auld and the staff came into Norwin, and they were all about effort, physicality, and belief. Coach Auld every day at practices brings pure energy and everything he has to the team, and the Knights feed off of it. The focus is to give everything you have at all times and ‘empty the tank’ every day. Physicality is another vital piece in Coach Auld’s coaching, and at practice the Knights are physical and gritty and look to bring that directly into games. Another key to the Knights is their belief, every day all day the Knights believe and strive to believe more and more in themselves and the rest of their teammates and coaches. This year the Knights are fearless and will take on whoever wants to step on the court at all times.
Norwin relies on their juniors and one senior, with a changing starting roster including senior Jeffrey Lenart, and juniors Alex Graney, Christopher McKnight, Nathan Kuch, Mario Csukes, and Stefano Giannikas.
”This is going to be a big year for us as we all have experience under our belts now,” said team captain Mario Csukas(11).
The Knights are sitting at the 6th of their Section of 8 teams (6A Section 2). The focus onward is to keep racking up every section win they can and more. Every game the Knights bring talent and energy whether its on the court or from the bench like never before. Their next battle will be a a double header with the girls and a crucial section game against Cannon-McMillan on Friday-January 10th at 7:30, which is Youth Knight as well… go Knights!
Game by game
The team started off their season December 3rd against at Penn Trafford. Unfortunately, the Knights lost the game 68-51 as the Warriors pulled away in the third quarter. The Warriors got up 10-0 at the start and the Knights were able to battle back by the third. However, Penn Trafford was just able to pull away in the fourth and get the win.
Norwin took vengeance then to the Jeannette Tip-Off Classic Tournament on December 6th, where they took out Steel Valley by a blistering 34 points, winning 66-32. Knights returning forward, Nathan Kuch was able to score 15 points without missing a shot in this battle at Jeanette.
Following the first win of the season the Knights took out West Mifflin the following day-December 7th, 63-41. Senior Captain Jeffrey Lenart was able to have a season-best game scoring 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The Norwin Boys fell just short 3 days later of beating the 1 seed in the WPIAL, Upper Saint Clair. USC towered over Norwin with 3 kids over 6 foot 6, however, Norwin had heart and battled it out only losing 57-42. Norwin was just outrebounded slightly by USC but battled with family and heart guarding the large USC roster.
The Knights took on Connellsville on Dec. 13, looking to claim their first section win. And Norwin ended up taking down Connellsville 64-47. The Knights were able to pull away starting in the third to lead to the team’s first section win. A key factor in this matchup was guard Stefano Giannikas who scored 18 points in this single game.
”I think and know that there is always room for improvement,” said Nathan Kuch.
The Knights then took their talents to CCAC to battle against Imani Christian. The Knights battled in the first, but were beaten on the boards and outscored. Leading to a tough 28-73 loss for the Knights.
On Dec. 20th the Knights kicked off their home games with a home opener against Peters Township. The Knights just came up short losing 49-62. Norwin guards Mario Csukas and Alex Graney had turning-point plays where they each got one surging the team’s energy. However, a couple quick stops led PTHS to just squeeze out the win.
However the Knights came storming back the following day beating the Valley Vikings on December 21st 64-42. The Knights utilized ball movement to find open shots on the arc. Where Knights guard, Stefano Giannikas rained in six 3-pointers to help the Knights take the win.
Norwin looked to take this momentum into December 27th where they matched up against Elizabeth forward, but Norwin lost the game 61-71. This game was one game of momentum, as each team had there runs, but EF’s just beat out the Knights.
Although the EF loss hurt the Knights took it to South Fayette the following day winning 61-49. Where a crucial part of the game was the bench. The Knights bench was louder than ever and kept the energy in this matchup at a high leading to a huge turning point win. Mario Csukas led the Knights with an astounding 31 points, which is a season high for any Knight this year and a career high for himself.
The Knights came in energized January 3rd to take on the prestigious Mt. Lebanon. The Knights battled Mt. Lebo to the end of regulation and after. The game went to one overtime and almost two. The Knights unfortunately gave up several offensive rebounds and runs to Lebo, but did not give up finding their teammates open and leading to a 51-49 point victory. Chris McKnight led a swing for the Knights overtime where he sunk a corner three for his 21st point, which was followed by a game-winning block by Nathan Kuch.
Norwin hoped to carry the winning run into January 7th when the Knights took on the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings where they came up short, 62-45. The Knights battled and were only down 5 going into the second quarter. However, the Knights were outscored 19-2 in the second quarter which pulled the Vikings away into a 32-10 point lead. Although the Knights weren’t gonna roll over as with their new staff’s energy and emphasis on relentlessness the Knights brought the game back to a 13-point game by the end of the 3rd quarter, but the Knights unfortunately were not able to keep cutting away at the lead of PCC resulting in a 62-45 point loss, placing them 6th in their section. If the Knights would’ve won they wouldn’t ranked 3rd in 6A-Section 2.
