CLARION - Losing the District 9 Class AA boys basketball championship game didn't bother Moniteau coach Randy Armagost Saturday night.

Never being in the game did.

Keystone jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the first five minutes, led by as many as 27 in the fourth quarter and cruised to a 63-47 triumph over the Warriors at Tippin Gymnasium on the campus of Clarion University.

The win marked the third consecutive District 9 title for the Panthers (22-4). It was also their third win over Moniteau this season. The Warriors suffered 47-45 and 64-48 losses to Keystone during the regular campaign.

"We didn't play with much confidence tonight," Armagost said. "I could see it early, when we were down 7-0 … There wasn't any hop in our step at all."

The loss ended Moniteau's season at 15-10. Keystone moves on to face Saegertown (12-15) in the PIAA playoffs this weekend.

"This season is a little disappointing because I thought we'd be a little better," Armagost said. "But we'll go back to work on it."

Garrett Heath sank a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game. He nailed a jumper two minutes later to give his team a 7-0 lead.

The all-time leading scorer in District 9, Heath had 27 points and seven rebounds on the night.

"It was important we get off to a quick start in this game," Keystone coach Greg Heath, Garrett's father, said. "I talked to Garrett about that before the game.

"I wanted him to take control of things early and that's what he did."

"Heath knocked down a couple of shots with two guys on him, two hands in his face," Armagost said. "There wasn't much we could do. He's a great player."

The Warriors couldn't do much offensively, either. Moniteau did not sink a field goal in the second quarter and trailed 48-24 entering the final period.

Keystone's lead peaked at 55-28 with 5:41 left in the game.

"The fourth quarter got a little sloppy, but the first three quarters were the best defense we've played all season," Coach Heath said.

"We couldn't hit a shot," Armagost said. "It seemed to be that way all night."

Tyler Grossman led the Warriors with 16 points, but scored just eight in the first three quarters. Garth Kohlmeyer came off the bench to sink three treys in the fourth period as the Warriors rallied late.

A.J. O'Neil had seven of 34 Keystone rebounds, but will have to sit out the Panthers' first PIAA tournament game after being ejected in the fourth quarter.

O'Neil came off the bench to verbally accost a Moniteau player.

"He saw a teammate get pushed and he reacted," Coach Heath said. "A.J.'s an emotional kid and he knows what he did was wrong. We just have to live with it."

Matt Schandelmeier and Tyler Hempfling both had eight of Moniteau's 30 rebounds. The Warriors had 15 turnovers to Keystone's 14.

The Panthers had just five turnovers in the first three quarters before going to their bench in the game's final minutes.

MONITEAU 47

Ryan Rumbaugh 1-2 1-2 3, Tyler Hempfling 1-5 1-2 3, Ross Brown 2-5 1-2 6, Cody Campbell 0-2 0-1 0, Eric Hilliard 0-0 0-0 0, Nick Dolak 1-2 0-0 2, Scott Weist 2-8 3-3 7, Tyler Grossman 4-13 7-11 16, Garth Kohlmeyer 3-6 0-0 9, Matt Buczkowski 0-2 0-0 0, Matt Schandelmeier 0-2 1-6 1. Totals: 14-47 14-27 47

KEYSTONE 63

Derek Duffee 2-2 2-2 6, Sam Swartzfager 3-6 0-0 6, Buck Neely 3-4 1-1 7, Billy Colwell 2-2 0-1 4, Garrett Heath 10-21 5-11 27, Cole Bowser 2-6 2-2 7, Scott Perez 0-3 0-0 0, Cody Summerville 1-1 0-0 2A.J. O'Neil 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 25-47 10-17 63

3-point goals:

Brown, Grossman, Kohlmeyer 3; Heath 2, Bowser