4th-quarter spurt lifts KC girls to victory

March 02, 2024 Last Updated: March 02, 2024 01:03 PM Sports

CLARION — The separation Karns City was looking for finally came in the fourth quarter.

Mired in a close game with District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge, the Gremlins managed a 10-0 run in a three-minute span of the final period.

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor makes a layup during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

The Lions never recovered as KC won the PIAA girls basketball sub-regional playoff, 41-34, at Clarion University.

The Lions’ Ashlie Weaver sank a basket 10 seconds into the fourth quarter to cut the Gremlins’ lead to 31-28. Ridge’s next points, on a trey from Tabitha Hyde, made it 41-31 with 3:06 left in the game.

The interim was filled with missed shots and turnovers for the Lions (13-12).

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor drives the ball down the court during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

“I remember seeing 31-28 on the scoreboard,” said KC coach Steve Andreassi. “The next time I looked, we’re up by 11 (39-28). It all happened so fast.

“We wanted to limit (Maya Wingard and Weaver,” he added. “I think we did a good job of making some of their weaker players take shots.”

Included in KC’s decisive run was a trey from Hanna Dailey and a conventional 3-point play from Savanna Prescott.

Karns City's Naomi Venesky holds on to the ball after Chestnut Ridge's attempt to steal it during their game at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Ridge played at a frantic pace for much of the night, which hurt the Lions’ chances.

“Our defense was stellar in the first half,” said Ridge coach Mark Dillow. “But offensively, we were in too much of a rush. We tried to get the girls to pull back and wait for a better shot.”

Karns City's Naomi Venesky protects the ball during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

The Lions took brief leads in the second quarter, thanks to 3-pointers from Isabella Hillegass (9-8) and Maya Wingard (12-11), but in both cases, Naomi Venesky answered with a trey of her own for KC.

It was Ashlie Weaver’s traditional 3-point play with 1:34 left in the first half that gave the Lions a 15-14 lead at the break.

Karns City's Hanna Dailey attempts to get around Chestnut Ridge's Ashlie Weaver during their game at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Weaver led the Lions with 16 points.

Venesky scored 12 for the Gremlins and Brooklynn Taylor added 10.

Though both teams had already clinched berths into the state tournament, the effort was still there on both sides.

Karns City's Naomi Venesky looks for a way to reach the net during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

“We took a loss to Chestnut Ridge in this game last year,” said Prescott. “We wanted to win and be on top of the region.”

Karns City (18-8) will face Seton-LaSalle, the sixth-place team out of the WPIAL, in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday.

CHESTNUT RIDGE 34

Karns City's Naomi Venesky tries to steal the ball from Chestnut Ridge after it camer loose during their game at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Maya Wingard 1 0-0 3, Isabella Hillegass 4 0-4 10, Ashlie Weaver 4 8-11 16, Camryn Ickes 0 2-2 2, Tabitha Hyde 1 0-0 3, Jenna Damjanovich 0 0-0 0. Totals: 10 10-17 34.

KARNS CITY 41

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor drives the ball down the court during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Naomi Venesky 4 1-2 12, Hanna Dailey 3 0-3 8, Savanna Prescott 3 3-3 9, Hannah Buchanan 1 0-0 2, Brooklynn Taylor 5 0-5 10, Phoebe Brandon 0 0-0 0, Hannah Summerville 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 4-13 41.

Chestnut Ridge 4 11 11 8 — 34

Karns City's Savanna Prescott drives toward the basket during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City 6 8 17 10 — 41

3-point goals: Chestnut Ridge 4 (Hillegass 2, Hyde, Wingard); Karns City 5 (Venesky 3, Dailey 2).

Karns City's Savanna Prescott makes a layup during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Hannah Buchanan protects the ball from Chestnut Ridge during their game at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor passes the ball during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor drives the ball down the court during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Naomi Venesky tries to steal the ball from Chestnut Ridge after a fumble during their game at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor attempts to reach the net during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Savanna Prescott attempts to reach the net during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor passes the ball during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Naomi Venesky passes the ball during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Naomi Venesky makes a three-pointer during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)

Karns City's Naomi Venesky looks for a way to reach the net during the game against Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University on Friday, March 1. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (3/1/2024)