KARNS CITY — Between playing and coaching, brothers Chris and Steve Andreassi have taken part in too many basketball games to count. But the two had never faced each other as opposing head coaches.

That was, until Tuesday.

Chris Andreassi brought his Knoch girls squad to Karns City, where Steve took over as head coach five months ago. The two Karns City graduates watched their teams play a closely contested game before the Knights pulled out a 44-39 victory.

Last season, Karns City played at Knoch. Steve Andreassi was serving as an assistant for the Gremlins at that point, but Monday's game offered something special in the head-to-head matchup.

“My initial thought was that they were coming here this year,” said Steve. “Chris was coming back to his roots. It's exciting for me to look down the sideline and see him standing there.”

“There was a bit of trepidation on my part after I knew we'd be facing each other,” admitted Chris. “I didn't want it to be about us, I wanted it to be about the girls. I am happy for Steve because he's gotten the chance to coach his daughter (KC senior forward Livia Andreassi) and I was excited to coach against my Goddaughter.”

Steve was not only facing his brother Tuesday night, in one respect, he was going up against his mentor.

“Chris is 3½ years older than me. We grew up in Fairview Township back in the days when parents could let their kids ride their bike a few miles to find a (pick-up) game,” Steve said. “The only way Chris was allowed to go was if he took me with him. He always took care of me.”

“I never remember fighting with Steve,” said Chris, “except for the time when we staged a fight. To make things even, I used a pillow and he used his bare fist and I came out of it with a bloody nose.”

Chris (Class of 1978) and Steve (Class of 1982) were both part of District 9 title teams at Karns City.

“When I was a kid, I remember coming to the high school and watching the boys team play,” said Chris. “I'd go home, roll up a sock and shoot it at a lamp shade, pretending I was Tommy Kusick. He was a big player here at the time.”

“We liked other sports, too, but there was just something about basketball,” added Steve. “After I saw the success he and his team had here at Karns City, my passion for the sport grew.”

Chris began coaching with the 9th-grade boys team at East Brady in 1987. Steve's first experience on the bench was with Karns City's girls team and was on the staff for the program's run to the state title in March 2000.

The two have remained close over the years.

“We communicate a little less now that we're both head coaches,” said Steve, “but we've always talked a lot of sports, including basketball ad nauseam.”

KNOCH 44

Gabby Fennell 4 1-1 11, Kayla Grafton 1 0-2 3, Emily Fraser 6 2-3 15, Casey Kretzer 1 1-2 4, Hannah Rowe 5 1-2 11, Anna Neff 0 0-0 0, Sadie Siegel 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5-10 44.

KARNS CITY 39

Alyssa Stitt 2 2-2 7, Emma Clark 1 0-0 2, Emily Hegedus 6 6-7 18, Sara Knox 1 0-0 2, Livia Andreassi 4 0-0 10, Kate Slaugenhoup 0 0-0 0, Emily Huff 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8-9 39.

Knoch 10 13 7 14 — 44

Karns City12 2 9 16 — 39

3-point goals: Knoch 5 (Fennell 2, Grafton, Fraser, Kretzer); Karns City 3 (Andreassi 2, Stitt).

Wednesday: Clarion at Karns City

Thursday: Burrell at Knoch