CLARION — Karns City coach Dave Kerschbaumer’s remedy for his team’s offensive struggles was simple.

Keep shooting.

The Gremlins missed their first 12 shots from the field in the second quarter of Tuesday’s District 9 Class AA girls basketball semifinal against Kane at Clarion High School.

Alyssa Gibson finally made a basket for Karns City with 2:07 left in the first half, but the Gremlins ended the period making just 2-of-15 attempts.

“I think with the layoff (11 days) since we last played, the girls just needed to get their legs back,” Kerschbaumer said. “We got a lot of the same looks in the second half and we started to make them. We needed to do what we do. We needed to keep shooting.”

The Gremlins’ shooting woes did not cost them as they stymied a young Kane team, 53-38, to advance to Saturday’s district title game against Moniteau.

Even with their poor shooting performance in the second quarter, the Gremlins still held a 31-19 lead at halftime, thanks to 10 points from the free throw line and a defense that forced 12 first-half turnovers and held the Wolves to just six points in the second period.

“It was frustrating,” said Gremlin sophomore guard Emily Hegedus of the flurry of missed shots, “but we figured if we keep shooting, the shots would eventually fall.”

While Karns City put up just 12 shots from the field in the final two quarters, they made seven of them, which was more than enough when coupled with its solid play at the other end of the floor.

Hegedus, who led all scorers with 18 points, drained a 3-pointer that put the Gremlins (22-2) up 42-26 with 2:51 left in the third period.

The Wolves simply lacked the firepower to make a substantial run into the Gremlins’ double-digit lead. Trinity Clark hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third, but her team’s deficit remained a daunting one at 43-29.

“We battled the whole game, but Karns City hit 3’s and their free throws,” said Kane coach Dave Kiehl. “We couldn’t match up with them, but we didn’t back down.”

The Wolves started three players who stand at least 5-foot-10, but the Gremlins’ last game — a 46-31 win over North Clarion in the KSAC title game Feb. 12 — featured the same type of challenge.

“Just like North Clarion, we knew they would try to get us inside,” said Kerschbaumer. “If they got position on us, we told our girls to go straight up with it.”

LeeAnn Gibson scored 14 points for the Gremlins and Alyssa Gibson added 12.

Ella Marconi and Clark both scored 12 points for the Wolves (16-10).

One win away from a third consecutive district crown, the Gremlins face a very familiar foe in Moniteau. Karns City won both regular-season meetings with the Warriors.

“This (matchup) is what we wanted and I think it’s what they wanted,” said Kerschbaumer. “It’s fun for both communities.”

KANE 38

Hanna Buhl 0 1-2 1, Lindsey Hottel 1 0-0 2, Rachel Morgan 3 1-1 7, Camryn Cummings 2 0-0 4, Ella Marconi 3 6-6 12, Trinity Clark 5 0-0 12, Caitlin O’Hara 0 0-0 0, Sydney Dyne 0 0-0 0, Nicole Buhl 0 0-0 0, Alexis Lima 0 0-0 0, Haley Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 8-9 38.

KARNS CITY 53

Alyssa Gibson 4 2-3 12, LeeAnn Gibson 3 8-12 14, Emily Hegedus 5 4-4 18, Brooke Moore 0 1-2 1, Mackenzie Craig 4 0-0 8, Abby Wolfe 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Stitt 0 0-0 0, Olivia Mourer 0 0-0 0, Livia Andreassi 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 15-21 53.

Kane 13 6 10 9 — 38

Karns City20 11 12 10 — 53

3-point goals: Kane 2 (Clark 2); Karns City 6 (Hegedus 4, A. Gibson 2).

Saturday: Karns City vs. Moniteau, District 9 Class AA Championship Game at Clarion University, time TBD