KARNS CITY — Forget about the football players arriving late.

“This is January 10th,” Karns City boys basketball coach Chris Bellis said Saturday. “That time is past. It's time for us to get on a roll.”

The Gremlins may have started that process Saturday, outlasting Moniteau 47-39 in the KC gym to snap a five-game losing streak.

KC (2-5) took the lead for good when a David Olszak layup snapped a 9-9 tie with six minutes left in the first half. The lead peaked at 42-27 midway through the fourth quarter before the Gremlins held on.

Karns City missed 10 free throws in the fourth quarter and turned the ball over four times in the final period against Moniteau's pressure.

“This game was ugly, but we'll take it,” Bellis said. “We have guys who shoot free throws very well in practice. Today was just one of those days.”

The Gremlins sank just 14 of 28 free throws Saturday. The Warriors (3-7) didn't fare any better, canning only three of 10.

Moniteau shot 32 percent from the floor, hitting 17 of 53 shots. The Warriors attempted 18 shots in the fourth quarter to Karns City's six.

“We were getting the looks we wanted and our pressure did force them into some mistakes,” Moniteau coach Jerrod Markle said. “We just didn't finish well.”

The Warriors were held below 40 points for the third time in five games. Moniteau has dropped five out of six.

Olszak, KC's point guard, had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds in the win. Dalton Callihan added 15 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Chandler Turner, a 6-foot-2 forward, contributed 12 rebounds and three assists.

Karns City enjoyed a 40-29 advantage on the boards.

“Our big guys (Callihan and Turner) are a big part of this team,” Olszak said. “When they're playing well, we're so much better overall.”

“Those two guys complemented each other really well today,” Bellis agreed. “They were finding each other on breaks and in transition. Chandler is a new starter to the varsity, so that effort today is very encouraging.”

So was the consistent play of Olszak. While his teammates struggled from the line, he sank all seven of his free throw attempts.

“We count on David for a lot of things,” Bellis said.

Cody Skiver paced Moniteau with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. James Bair added 10 points, seven boards and three assists, Aaron Marterella four steals and four rebounds.

“Normally, we're able to effectively press without fouling. That wasn't the case today,” Markle said.

Starters Jake Fullerton, Bair and Skiver all fouled out in the fourth quarter for the Warriors.

“This was a big win for us,” Olszak said. “It's a confidence boost. Maybe this will get us going.”

MONITEAU 39

Jake Fullerton 2-4 1-1 5, Aaron Marterella 3-4 0-4 6, Cody Skiver 5-18 1-2 11, James Bair 4-15 1-2 10, Derek Boben 3-7 0-0 7, Shawn Giddings 0-1 0-0 0, Zack Jewart 0-2 0-1 0, J.J. Waid 0-1 0-0 0, Brantlee Alexander 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-53 3-10 39.

KARNS CITY 47

David Olszak 4-9 7-7 15, Christian Turner 0-2 0-2 0, Colton Hawk 2-3 0-0 4, Chandler Turner 1-6 1-7 3, Dalton Callihan 5-9 5-8 15, Ethan Conto 2-3 0-2 6, Brendan Waltman 0-1 0-0 0, Holden Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Reese Barger 1-2 1-2 4. Totals: 15-36 14-28 47.

Moniteau 7 8 10 14 — 39

Karns City6 12 12 17 — 47

3-point goals: Bair, Boben; Conto 2, Barger

JV: Karns City, 48-39 (M: Dalton Anderson 11, KC: Noah Pollock 13, Holden Martin 10)

Today: Brookville at Karns City

Wednesday: Moniteau at North Clarion