Photo: KC girls

STEVEN DIETZ/SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE

Senior members of the 2004-05 Karns City girls basketball team are, from left: Brittany Green, Morgan Summerville, Jaime Reott.

Eagle Staff Writer

KARNS CITY - If you happened to see a Karns City junior varsity game last season, congratulations.

You got a preview of this year's girls varsity team.

Gone are the eight seniors from the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and District 9 championship teams. Those players accounted for 96 percent of the scoring.

Gremlins coach Chris Bellis said he isn't too concerned about the lack of inexperience, however.

"We're doing just fine. We don't lack in talent, but we lack in experience," said Bellis. "We need to get the girls some experience.

"A lot of these girls, if they played in another league, they could have played. They didn't get a lot of time because of the players in front of them," he added.

It will be hard to replace players like Butler County Player of the Year Katie Kepple, who averaged 18.2 points, 5.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game, as well as fellow guards Ariel Venesky (8.1 ppg) and Laura Seyler (7.7 ppg).

Bellis said others will step to the forefront.

"The one benefit is that this group has played together. We can use that to our advantage," he said.

"We'll see who needs to fill the leadership role, the scoring," Bellis added.

Bellis expects eight to nine players to shuffle in and out, much like last year.

Senior forward Morgan Summerville, whose 24 points is the most by any returnee from last year, most likely will be the top player underneath.

"She started a couple of games last year and may start in the post," said Bellis. "I look for her to be the best defensive player in the post. She's our best rebounder."

Two other seniors dot the roster - guards Brittany Green and Jaime Reott - while junior guards Melissa Collier and Laura Kepple will be thrown into the mix.

Joining Summerville at forward will be juniors Ashley Fuhrer, Brianna Markle and Mallory Craig.

Sophomore Haley Callihan, who is bouncing back from a volleyball injury, was the team's leading scorer on the junior varsity team last year.

"I don't know who will start, but this group will press more and play more of a defensive game," said Bellis.

"We should have more balanced scoring. We have six or seven girls that can be the leading scorer on a different night."

The Gremlins find themselves in a bigger KSAC, as teams such as Cranberry, Rocky Grove, Venango Catholic, West Forest and East Forest have been added.

"It should be interesting who steps out and in what role. A lot of people are talking about rebuilding, but we don't talk about that. We hope to be in the think of things," Bellis said.

There are 14 teams in the KSAC and 13 games will be counted as conference matchups. Some teams will be played twice, but only one will be considered a conference game.

Despite the unusual setup, the Gremlins are looking to grow right along with the schedule.

"We talked about our goals and they seem to be more short-term goals," said Bellis. "We want to be competitive early."

KARNS CITY HIGH SCHOOL

2004-05 Girls Schedule

Dec. 3-4-at Freeport Tip-Off Tournament; Dec. 8-EAST FOREST, 6 p.m.; Dec. 10-11-KARNS CITY SHOOT OUT TOURNAMENT; Dec. 14-MONITEAU, 6 p.m.; Dec. 17-at Keystone, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 21-CRANBERRY, 6 p.m.; Dec. 23-ROCKY GROVE, 6 p.m.; Dec. 28-29-at Hampton Holiday Tournament

Jan. 5-at West Forest, 6 p.m.; Jan. 7-CLARION-LIMESTONE, 6 p.m.; Jan. 11-NORTH CLARION, 6 p.m.; Jan. 14-at Clarion, 6:30 p.m.; Jan. 15-DUBOIS CENTRAL, 6 p.m.; Jan. 19-VENANGO CATHOLIC, 6 p.m.; Jan. 21-at Redbank Valley, 6 p.m.; Jan. 25-UNION, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28-at Cranberry, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31-at A-C Valley, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2-CLARION, 6 p.m.; Feb. 4-at Moniteau, 6 p.m.; Feb. 11-KEYSTONE, 6 p.m.