KARNS CITY — There are two freshmen listed on the Karns City boys basketball team's varsity roster. Both figured prominently into Tuesday's blowout win over visiting Union.

Freshman point guard Chase Beighley scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and freshman forward Nathan Waltman tallied 13 points and corralled 16 rebounds as the Gremlins overwhelmed the Golden Knights, 80-37.

“Chase has been in our starting lineup since the start of the season and this was the second straight game for Nathan,” said KC coach Chris Bellis. “They both have a high understanding of the game. With freshmen, it's just a matter of how quickly can they become consistent. We're hoping it's sooner rather than later for those two.

“One thing that has really helped them is the leadership of our three senior captains — Jacob Friel, Nolan Riley and Noah Kepple.”

Both Beighley and Waltman had a hand in a dominant third quarter that turned the game into a rout.

Union cut Karns City's lead to 39-29 with Lucas Bowser's conventional 3-point play with 6:18 left in the period. The Gremlins used the rest of the period to go on a 23-0 run and held a 62-29 lead entering the fourth quarter.

“We played really good defense during that stretch,” said Riley, a forward who scored 10 points in the victory. “It led to a lot of fast-breaks and we got a lot of quick points off of it.”

Riley was right in the middle of Karns City's staunch defense. He guarded Bowser for much of the game and held the senior, who scored his 1,000th career point as a junior last season, to just nine points.

“Nolan did a great job tonight,” said Bellis. “He played him (Bowser) smart.”

Riley has been impressed with his freshman teammates' performance thus far.

“Both have stepped up and played really well,” he said. “Chase is doing a great job of handling the point.”

“That's a tough role for a freshman to step into,” added Bellis, “but Chase seems to be getting more and more comfortable with it.”

Union's inability to match the Gremlins' intensity on the boards had it behind the 8-ball all night. KC doubled up the Knights (2-3) on the glass, 52-26.

“We've had trouble rebounding this season,” said Union coach Eric Mortimer, “but nothing like tonight.”

The Knights trailed 21-12 after one quarter and by the 3:30 mark of the second period, all 11 Union players had seen action in the game.

“It's about finding the right combination of players, who wants to step up for us,” added Mortimer.

Also scoring in double digits for Karns City (3-2) was Friel, who drained 16 points, including 11 in the pivotal third quarter.

UNION 37

Karter Vogel 1 0-0 2, Reice Saylor 1 1-2 3, Nolan Cumberland 2 0-2 4, Hunter Johnston 2 2-2 7, Lucas Bowser 4 1-1 9, Truman Vereb 1 1-2 3, Layton Stewart 2 0-0 4, Coleman Buchanan 2 1-2 5, Luke Bowser 0 0-4 0. Totals: 15 6-15 37.

KARNS CITY 80

Chase Beighley 8 2-6 21, Austin Fahlor 3 2-2 9, Logan Fleeger 0 1-2 1, Jacob Friel 7 2-6 16, Logan Pistorius 3 0-0 7, Nolan Riley 5 0-4 10, Nathan Waltman 6 1-2 13, Josh Wimer 1 0-0 3. Totals: 33 8-22 80.

Union 12 12 5 8 — 37

Karns City21 14 27 18 — 80

3-point goals: Union 1 (Johnston); Karns City 6 (Beighley 3, Fahlor, Pistorius, Wimer).

Thursday: Union at A-C Valley

Friday: Karns City at Moniteau