FOXBURG — A-C Valley had Karns City down, but was never able to knock its rival out.

The Gremlins took advantage in a decisive fourth quarter.

Trailing 51-41 with five and a half minutes left in the game, KC received clutch shooting and held the host Falcons scoreless over the final 2:17 in earning a 60-55 boys basketball victory Monday night.

“I think we played a little harder in the fourth quarter,” said Gremlins' coach Chris Bellis. “Orton (Levi, A-C Valley guard) hustled for a loose ball and scored a basket at the end of the third and I think that fired our guys up. It made them mad that he out-hustled us for that ball. We played with more urgency in the final quarter.”

KC's comeback was spearheaded by senior guard Caiden Corbett, who scored all 10 of his points in the final eight minutes. He drained a pair of treys to cut his team's deficit to 51-49 with 4:21 remaining.

The Gremlins tied the game at 53 before Eli Penny's basket gave the Falcons their last lead of the game. Ethan McElroy, who hit four 3-pointers on the night, drained one to put KC up 56-55 and Corbett followed with a bucket on a baseline drive for a 3-point edge with 40 seconds to go.

Corbett started the game, but remained on the periphery of KC's offense for the first three periods.

“They went to a 1-2-2 zone,” Bellis said of the Falcons (9-4). “Against that, the open shots are in the corner and Caiden was in the corner. He hit some big shots and they were key to us winning tonight.”

“I felt very cold shooting the ball, but I felt like I had to do something,” said Corbett. “I'm just glad I was able to help the team.”

Also integral to the Gremlins' rally was a press defense that forced five A-C Valley turnovers in the fourth period. They aided KC's eight points in just 60 seconds, a span that ended with Corbett's second trey.

“We were ready for it (press), but this was our (fifth game in eight days) and our guys were exhausted,” said A-C Valley coach Tony McGarvey. “We buckled, but Karns City had something to do with that. They're a good team.”

Orton, who is averaging 24 points per game, scored a game-high 25, including 13 of the Falcons' 15 points in the third period. No other Falcon scored in double figures.

“Our last couple of games, Levi scored a combined 17 or 18 points,” said McGarvey. “Eddie Stevanus and Broc Weigle both hit double figures. We have seven guys who we know can score.”

The Gremlins shot just 36 percent (nine of 25) in the first half, when they trailed by as many as 12 points at 36-24. In the second half, they improved to 56 percent (13 of 23).

“Because of the turnovers we caused, we were able to get a lot of high-percentage shots in the second half,” Bellis said.

Chase Beighley scored 20 points to lead the Gremlins (8-4). McElroy's treys gave him 12 points and Nathan Waltman finished with 11.

KARNS CITY 60

Caiden Corbett 4 0-0 10, Micah Rupp 3 1-5 7, Chase Beighley 7 5-5 20, Ethan McElroy 4 0-0 12, Nathan Waltman 4 3-4 11, Luke Garing 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 9-14 60. A-C VALLEY 55

Levi Orton 9 6-6 25, Eddie Stevanus 3 0-0 6, Eli Penny 2 0-0 4, Broc Weigle 2 0-0 4, Cole Dehart 3 0-0 8, Tanner Merwin 1 0-0 3, Russ Carr 2 0-0 5, Austin Cratty 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 6-6 55.

Karns City 14 8 16 22 — 60

A-C Valley15 14 15 11 — 55

3-point goals: Karns City 7 (McElroy 4, Corbett 2, Beighley); A-C Valley 5 (Dehart 2, Merwin, Carr, Orton).

Wednesday: A-C Valley at Keystone; Forest Area at Karns City

Corbett