CLARION — Needing a spark, a familiar contributor for Karns City's boys basketball team rose to the occasion.

The Gremlins had scored just three points in the second quarter and trailed at halftime of Thursday's District 9 Class AAA semifinal against Moniteau.

Senior forward Chandler Turner helped turn the tide in Karns City's favor, sinking 10 points in the third period alone. The effort ignited the Gremlins, who dominated the final period in posting a 56-45 victory at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium.

“Chandler really stepped up for us, but the biggest reason for this win was defense,” said Karns City coach Chris Bellis, who watched his team hold Moniteau star Lake Pry to just five points.

Pry entered the game averaging nearly 22 points per contest.

“Our strategy against Moniteau this season was to limit his touches,” added Bellis. “It took us three games, but we finally executed.”

The Gremlins (16-7) will play in the district title game against Brookville, a 48-42 victor against top-seeded Kane, at a date, time and site to be determined.

Moniteau's 26-20 halftime lead swelled to 31-21 when Ethan McDeavitt drained a 3-pointer with 5:40 left in the third period. But KC then embarked on a 16-6 run to close the quarter. Turner and Noah Pollock scored KC's last nine points of the period, after which the game was tied at 37.

“Their post play was the difference in the game,” said Warrior coach Jerry Day. “He (Turner) is a big and physical kid and we had no answer for him.”

“Ten points in one quarter is a lot,” said Turner, who scored 20 points in the game. “But I wouldn't have scored that many if it weren't for my teammates getting me the ball.”

In the fourth, it was Pollock who took the scoring reins, tallying 10 of his 19 points. He turned a Moniteau turnover into two points that gave KC a 48-42 edge with just over two minutes remaining. It was part of a 14-3 run the Gremlins managed to close the game.

The Warriors began attempting 3-pointers almost exclusively. When Jake Jewart finally hit one with 20 seconds left in the contest, the Gremlins still held a comfortable 54-45 lead.

Pry attempted just eight shots in the game, making two. He scored a combined 39 points in the two regular season games against KC.

“They did a really good job of playing defense tonight,” Pry said of the Gremlins. “They seemed to know what was coming.”

The Warriors held momentum at the end of the first half. Josh Adamson and Jewart both drained a pair of treys in the first two quarters and Ethan McDeavitt added another.

“When Lake got bogged down, other kids stepped up,” said Day. “They have all season.”

That Plan B worked in the second quarter when the Gremlins made just one of their 12 field goal attempts, but it was unable to keep pace in the second half when KC's offense took over the game.

Bellis credited senior Jimmy Thompson with smothering Pry almost the entire game.

“It just came down to hustle plays, playing hard and rebounding,” said Thompson.

Adamson scored 13 points to lead the Warriors and Jewart contributed 11.

Turner has been part of much success for KC's football and track and field teams. He is relishing the basketball team's advance to the district final.

“It feels great,” he said. “Karns City's last district title in (boys) basketball was 2005. We want to hang another banner up there.”

Moniteau posted a turnaround season, going from 6-16 last year to 14-9 in Day's first year as head coach.

“What I'm going to remember most about this season is all the hard work these guys put in,” he said. “Our goal at the beginning of the year was to be the hardest working team in the league. I believe we were.”

MONITEAU 45

Lake Pry 2 1-2 5, Jake Jewart 4 0-0 11, Ethan McDeavitt 3 0-0 8, Josh Adamson 5 0-0 13, Jared Lominski 2 0-2 4, Ross Tenney 2 0-0 4. Totals: 18 1-4 45.

KARNS CITY 56

Noah Pollock 7 4-7 19, Noah Kepple 2 0-0 6, Ian McElroy 0 3-4 3, Jacob Friel 2 0-0 4, Eric Dodd 1 0-0 2, Jimmy Thompson 1 0-0 2, Chandler Turner 8 4-6 20, Nolan Riley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 11-17 56.

Moniteau 15 11 11 8 — 45

Karns City17 3 17 19 — 56

3-point goals: Moniteau 8 (Adamson 3, Jewart 3, McDeavitt 2); Karns City 3 (Kepple 2, Pollock).

Next: Karns City vs. Brookville, District 9 Class AAA Championship Game; date, time and site TBD