CHERRY TWP — Karns City senior Shanel Preston believes the Gremlins’ challenging non-conference schedule is starting to show itself on the floor.

When Karns City needed its best defensive effort in a first-place showdown on the road against rival Moniteau, the Gremlins turned in a performance Saturday night neither school will likely forget.

Karns City only allowed the Warriors to score one field goal in a 52-4 KSAC South Division girls basketball win.

Preston, who scored a game-high 12 points, feels playing the likes of Bishop McCort and Hickory have the Gremlins (8-2, 3-0) battle-tested.

“I feel like we’re much more prepared than last year because we’re playing more competition than we had last year,” Preston said. “I think we’re working together better.”

Karns City already has more losses than its team that finished 21-1 and won the KSAC and District 9 titles last season, but that was by design.

Gremlins coach Dave Kerschbaumer wanted to find the best opponents to challenge his group.

“That was our thinking going into this year going to the Indiana tip-off tournament,” Kerschbaumer said. “I thought we may take some losses, but in the long road it would make us a better basketball team. I think tonight our girls weren’t overwhelmed by the situation and it was another game on our schedule.”

Karns City may not have wanted to place too much importance on one game, but its full-court defense played like it was the postseason.

The Gremlins overwhelmed Moniteau (6-5, 3-1) from the outset, shutting the Warriors out in the first and third quarters.

Moniteau turned the ball over 11 times in the first quarter and 30 times in the game.

Alycia Brehm made Moniteau’s lone field goal, a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 38 seconds left in the game.

Warriors coach Matt Stebbins told his team to look ahead.

“Stay focused on the big goal, making the playoffs and making a run in the playoffs,” Stebbins said. “It’s one game.”

LeeAnn Gibson put Karns City ahead for good 54 seconds into the game with a layup. The Gremlins scored the game’s first 20 points.

Sara Hull scored Moniteau’s first point on a free throw with 4:52 left in the first half.

Karns City led 31-1 at halftime.

“I think our defense really made that happen,” said freshman Emily Hegedus, who scored 11 points. “We’ve been preparing for this game for over a week. We’ve been practicing in the summer, working hard to get our defense good.”

Gibson, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds, also finished in double figures for Karns City.

Annie Hegedus also had six assists.

The Gremlins started the mercy clock with 5:07 left in the third when Emily LoPresti put them ahead 41-1 with a layup.

Preston hopes Karns City will continue to challenge themselves.

That way the Gremlins can continue their improvement.

“Depending on our defense in that game it could be possible,” Preston said. “I do believe we can do better. We played an amazing game, but we can get better as the season goes on.”

KARNS CITY 52

Alyssa Gibson 3 0-0 6, Emily LoPresti 2 0-0 5, LeeAnn Gibson 5 0-0 10, Annie Hegedus 1 0-0 2, Shanel Preston 3 5-6 12, Emily Hegedus 5 0-0 11, Saydie Moore 2 0-0 4, LeErin Jones 1 0-0 2, Clara Stoughton 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Craig 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 5-6 52.

MONITEAU 4

Alazia Greaves 0 0-2 0, Alycia Brehm 1 0-0 3, Kristina DeMatteis 0 0-1 0, Stephanie McCall 0 0-0 0, Sara Hull 0 1-2 1, Kennedy DeMatteis 0 0-1 0, Cortney Claypoole 0 0-0 0, Emma Bair 0 0-0 0. Totals: 1 1-6 4.

Karns City 14 17 17 4 — 52

Moniteau0 1 0 3 — 4

3-point goals: Karns City 2 (Preston, E. Hegedus); Moniteau 1 (Brehm)

Tuesday: North Clarion at Moniteau; Forest Area at Karns City.