CHERRY TWP — Better late than never; that’s how Moniteau’s girls basketball team earned its latest victory.

The Warriors found themselves in an early 11-3 hole against Karns City Wednesday night. For 30 minutes, they failed to catch the rival Gremlins, but remained within striking distance.

When Catherine Kelly drained two free throws with 1:29 left, Moniteau had its first lead of the game at 39-37 and they held on for a 40-37 triumph.

The Gremlins (4-4) were coming off a 52-12 loss Monday to Redbank Valley.

“I told the girls before the game that Karns City is not that bad of a team,” said Moniteau coach Dee Arblaster. “They had a bad game, but we had to be prepared to face a good team.”

Allie Pry made one of two free throws to push the Warrior lead to three points with 20 seconds remaining. KC’s Brooklynn Taylor rebounded the miss and got a good look from 3-point range at the other end of the court, but the shot was just off and Kendall Sankey rebounded for the Warriors (5-2).

KC went scoreless over the final four and a half minutes of the game.

“Against Redbank, we got smacked and just took it,” said Gremlins coach Steve Andreassi. “We set the tone for three quarters tonight. Then with the young and trying-to-mesh team that we have, we faltered in the fourth quarter.

“I can’t be disappointed in the effort.”

Down 36-24 with under six minutes left, the Warriors’ rally began with a pair of steals by Autumn Stewart. She followed the first with a basket of her own. The second led to a trey from Catherine Kelly and the deficit was trimmed to 36-29.

Stewart is Moniteau’s top player off the bench.

“She came in and was definitely a reason why we won tonight,” said Moniteau junior forward Davina Pry of Stewart. “We just started playing the way we’re capable of late in the game.”

Kelly added another 3-pointer and Abbey Jewart sank two shots, including a trey, as the Warriors closed in on KC.

Kelly scored a game-high 20 points, including 10 in the fourth period.

“We want the ball in her hands late in the game,” said Arblaster.

Taylor paced the Gremlins with 11 points.

KARNS CITY 37

Emma Dailey 3 0-1 6, Naomi Venesky 1 0-0 2, Chloe Fritch 2 0-0 4, Shae Pistorius 1 0-0 3, Savanna Prescott 2 1-2 5, Taylour King 3 0-0 6, Brooklynn Taylor 2 6-6 11, Jordan Macurak 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7-9 37.

MONITEAU 40

Abbey Jewart 3 0-1 8, Catherine Kelly 6 5-5 20, Autumn Stewart 2 0-0 4, Allie Pry 1 1-2 4, Davina Pry 1 2-4 4, Kendall Sankey 0 0-2 0. Totals: 13 8-14 40.

Karns City 11 10 8 8 — 37

Moniteau 6 7 9 18 — 40

3-point goals: Karns City 2 (Pistorius, Taylor); Moniteau 6 (Kelly 3, Jewart 2, A.Pry).

Dec. 29: Moniteau at Mercer Christmas Tournament

Jan. 4: Karns City at Clarion