KARNS CITY — A recent four-game losing skid dealt a blow to the confidence of the Karns City boys basketball team.

Head coach Chris Bellis hopes a pair of blowout wins can fix that.

Two days after defeating Forest Area by 45 points, the Gremlins successfully defended their home floor with a 73-46 dismantling of Venango Catholic on Friday.

KC (5-6) had watched its record dip to 3-6 with losses to West Shamokin, Keystone, North Clarion and Clarion-Limestone.

“We couldn't score,” Bellis said. “During that streak, we got out of the 30s just once. I thought we played good defense in those games, but when you can't score more than we did, it's tough to win games.”

“It all started with the West Shamokin game,” said junior guard Ian McElroy. “That was the championship game of their (holiday) tournament and they beat us pretty bad (54-36). We needed a regrouping period. These two wins, they can really help.”

McElroy has started several games this season, but has also been a valuable asset off the bench. That's where he began Friday's game, but he ended the night with a team-high 17 points, including 13 in the second quarter.

“I was just shooting the ball really well tonight and the team played well,” he said. “It doesn't matter to me if I start or come in off the bench.”

The Gremlins took it to the Vikings (4-10) early on both ends of the floor. KC held a 13-1 lead and had forced nine turnovers by the time Venango Catholic attempted its first field goal.

“We brought a lot of full-court man pressure and attacked the basket on offense,” said Bellis. “We scored a lot of points in transition.”

Noah Pollock added 13 points and Jimmy Thompson scored 10 for Karns City.

The vast majority of KC's roster played a fall sport. When the football team's season finally ended, basketball season was already underway.

“We just got our 20th practice in,” said Bellis. “A lot of teams get 15 practices in before the season starts, but at this point we should be in basketball shape and I think we are.”

The Gremlins will seek their third straight victory when they travel to Clarion on Tuesday.

“When we have played well this year, we've had balance on offense,” said Bellis. “For us to have a good second half this season, we need points in the paint. At times, we have relied a lot on our outside shooting.”

VENANGO CATHOLIC 46

Noah Puleo 3 0-0 7, Robert Felmlee 1 1-1 3, Tim Wagner 3 2-4 8, Dan Lillard 0 2-2 2, Josh Puleo 1 5-6 7, Brady Kingston 4 11-20 19, Estifanos Robertson 0 0-0 0, Mulugeta Robertson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 21-33 46.

KARNS CITY 73

Noah Pollock 5 0-0 13, Collin Dunmyre 1 0-0 2, Holden Martin 1 0-0 2, Ben Ealy 3 0-3 6, Ian McElroy 7 0-1 17, Jimmy Thompson 4 0-0 10, Reese Barger 0 2-2 2, Jacob Friel 2 4-6 8. Chandler Turner 4 0-2 8, Dom Callihan 2 1-2 5, Nolan Riley 0 0-1 0, Noah Kepple 0 0-0 0. Totals: 29 7-17 73.

Venango Catholic 5 18 10 13 — 46

Karns City20 19 19 15 — 73

3-point goals: Venango Catholic 1 (N. Puleo); Karns City 8 (Pollock 3, McElroy 3, Thompson 2).

Tuesday: Karns City at Clarion