KARNS CITY — Sometimes Emma Johns gets off to slow starts.

But the sophomore on the Karns City girls basketball team seems to have a knack for finishing fast.

She did so again Wednesday against Union at home.

In what was a microcosm for the game as a whole, Johns struggled in the first 10 minutes as the Gremlins fell behind 21-4, but closed the game with seven of her 14 points in the fourth quarter as Karns City rallied to win by three.

“She seems to all of a sudden come out of the woodwork and fulfill our needs at the end of the game,” said Karns City girls basketball coach Steve Andreassi about one of his young, burgeoning stars. “She's done that several times this year. Once again, she came up big.”

Johns, a 5-foot-6 guard, is leading Karns City in scoring at 12.6 points per game.

Even she admits that number would be higher if she got out of the gate quicker.

“I'm a little off at the start of games sometimes,” Johns said, grinning. “I just try to get my mind off of it and try to settle down.”

Andreassi actually sat Johns for a spell in the first half Wednesday, “to get my head back into the game,” Johns said.

It worked.

“It feels really good because I don't want to let my team down,” Johns said. “I'm just trying to do my best so we can get a win at the end.

“I'm very proud we were able to come back and win for sure; it's not easy coming back from that far down.” Johns added. “It takes a lot to get back into it.”

Johns' play and her ability to put the past in the past is one of the reasons why the Gremlins have already matched their win total from last season.

It was a rough year in 2018-19, but an important one.

“It's really fun because last year was definitely hard,” Johns said. “It's nice to see how we've picked it up. We just keep getting better. We're growing for sure.”

Johns started playing basketball in the fourth grade and she was a frequent spectator at Karns City games when players like LeeAnn Gibson, Annie Hegedus, Emily Hegedus, Emily LoPresti and Shanel Preston were dominating for the Gremlins.

“We would always say, 'Wouldn't it be cool to be like them someday?'” Johns said.

The Gremlins are hoping that day is coming soon.

Karns City starts one senior and the rest of the lineup consists of sophomores.

Freshmen Emma Dailey and Rosie Carden also see time off the bench.

“We have no juniors and we have three seniors,” Andreassi said. “It's learn by experience. We're throwing them to the wolves.”

It's on-the-job training. Sink or swim.

The Gremlins have been competitive in nearly every game so far this season after learning how to do so last season.

“You have to be strong and be confident in yourself,” Johns said.

Johns gave up another sport she is passionate about, volleyball, this fall to focus on basketball.

She decided recently to go back to the volleyball court.

“I went to a couple of (volleyball) games and watched and that was a little hard,” Johns said. “It's still fun sport. Next year I'll be back. I like being a multi-sport girl.”

Johns said her offense is clearly ahead of her defense at this point in her career.

Johns is hoping to rapidly close that gap.

“I just need to get better at helping, trying to take some passes away,” Johns said. “I'd like to deflect more passes and turn them into layups. Defense is hustle and mental for sure. It's just getting in there and playing hard. It's just heart.”