RIMERSBURG — Up and down the court they went.

Whether they were popping 3-pointers, mid-range jumpers or going to the hoop, the players on the Union boys basketball team were scoring — and scoring often.

The Golden Knights wasted little time revving themselves up against Karns City and rarely let off the gas pedal on the way to a 70-44 home win over the Gremlins Wednesday night.

“That's our forte. That's what we do,” said Union coach Karen Davis. “We like to move the ball down the floor. If we had that 30-second shot clock, I'd love it. I'd just love it.”

Senior guard Taylor Smith, who scored a game-high 27 points, helped Union stake out an early 7-0 lead.

Karns City (3-8 overall, 1-3 in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference South) was able to get as close as 18-13 early in the second quarter, but as the Golden Knights have been apt to do this season, they went on a big run to close the half with a 19-point lead.

“We have to use our strengths and quickness is one of them,” Davis said. “Speed is one of them and we have to use it.”

Union (11-1, 3-0) used its quickness and speed to build a lead that swelled to as many as 35 points in the second half.

The Golden Knights shot 48 percent from the floor.

Smith was adept at hitting long-range jumpers — he connected on five 3-pointers — as well as getting to the hoop.

“Taylor had a great game,” Davis said. “The game we had here against Keystone, he was having a bad shooting night. And he gets so mad. I told him, ‘Some nights, you're just going to have those games. You have to get over that. There are other things you can do to help other than shooting and scoring.' He did that and tonight, he was on.”

Brody Pollock added 15 points and Kaden McGregor and Mikey Harris each pitched in with eight points for Union.

Senior point guard Austin Davis scored six points, but added 13 assists in the win.

“Their guards are so good,” said Karns City coach Chris Bellis. “They make it difficult for us to press to get back in the game. We just didn't knock our shots down early. I felt like we had some decent looks, we just didn't convert.”

That has been the problem for the Gremlins this season. Poor shooting, especially early in games, have led to big deficits.

Karns City was just 14-of-45 from the field. It shot just 33 percent from the floor in the first half.

Union's defense made life difficult on Tucker Preston and Tyler Kepple.

The Karns City guards came into the night as the Gremlins' two most dangerous shooters and offensive weapons, but were held to a combined 18 points.

Kepple had 15 of them.

“Tucker and Tyler tried to go to the basket a little bit,” Bellis said. “We just have to get better at it.”

KARNS CITY 44Brandyn Bowser 2-10 2-6 7, Tyler Kepple 5-10 1-2 15, Tucker Preston 1-9 0-0 3, Kyle Barger 1-1 0-0 2, Ethan Williams 1-6 2-2 4, Andrew Johnston 0-2 3-4 3, Brady Ellenberger 2-4 0-0 5, Logan Moroney 0-0 0-0 0, David Olszak 1-1 1-1 3, Nathan Wackerly 1-2 0-0 2, Don Filgers 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Pfeife 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Murray 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 14-45 9-15 44.

UNION 70Taylor Smith 11-19 0-0 27, Brody Pollock 6-16 3-4 15, Brody Shick 2-5 0-0 4, Kaden McGregor 4-7 0-3 8, Austin Davis 2-4 0-0 6, Mikey Harris 3-7 2-4 8, Dylan Shirey 0-1 0-0 0, Shawn Hazlett 1-1 0-0 2, Jake Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Wanya Harris 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 29-60 5-11 70.

Karns City 6 16 9 13—44Union 16 25 19 10—703-point goals: Karns City 7 (Kepple 4, Bowser, Preston, Ellenberger); Union 7 (Smith 5, Davis 2).

Friday: Redbank Valley at Union

Tuesday: North Clarion at Karns City