Naomi Venesky proves MVP bona fides in Karns City girls basketball’s first KSAC championship since 2016
CLARION — A week ago, Karns City girls basketball’s Naomi Venesky was named MVP of the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.
In Saturday’s KSAC championship game, her team desperately needed her, and the senior delivered in the fourth quarter at Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium.
The Gremlins’ effort on the offensive end had been lackluster through three periods — 14 turnovers and a 4-of-22 showing from the field that had the team in a 22-14 hole early in the fourth.
Venesky had scored just five points in that span, but responded with four buckets and 10 points in the final eight minutes to lift KC to a 27-24 triumph, the program’s fourth victory in the title game and first since 2016.
“The first three quarters were beyond frustrating, but when you are named MVP, you’re supposed to step up,” said Venesky, who finished with 15 points. “People expect it. We got after it late in the game, and I started making shots.”
Her conventional three-point play with 7:06 left cut the deficit to 22-17.
C-L’s Julianna Schwabenbauer sank a basket with 4:22 on the clock to give the Lions (17-7) a 24-22 edge, but they would not score again.
Venesky’s steal and basket just over two minutes later tied the game. Her layup with 12.5 seconds left put the Gremlins up 26-24.
Teammate Hanna Dailey added a free throw with under three seconds to go. The Lions’ Hannah Beggs had an open look from the corner at the buzzer, but the shot rimmed out and KC celebrated surviving the lowest-scoring KSAC title game in the event’s 19-year history.
“I’m exhausted,” KC coach Steve Andreassi said. “I’m so proud of our girls for persevering. We were down by eight points late in the game, but we didn’t quit.
“Naomi is the heart and soul of our team. She’s 100% a team leader.”
What allowed the Gremlins to overtake the Lions with a 13-point fourth quarter was their defense never allowed C-L to pull away.
The Lions scored no more than eight points in any quarter. Their junior guard, Beggs, who averages 16.5 points per contest, was held to a single basket in the fourth period.
“She has a knack for scoring in the paint,” Andreassi said of Beggs. “To hold her to two points, it was a great job by our defense.”
“We also knew that No. 2 (Raegan Love) is a good 3-point shooter, so we limited her outside shots,” Dailey said.
Love made one trey and finished the game with five points.
KC (22-2) made just three field goals in the first half, two of them 3-pointers from Alivia Farren.
The Gremlins fell in the conference title game to Redbank Valley the last two years.
“Winning feels amazing,” Dailey said. “I know how hard we’ve all worked for this. We found a way to finish tonight.”
KC will now get nine days off before playing in the District 8/9 Class 3A semifinals Feb. 24 against either Westinghouse or Moniteau.
“We’ll get back to practice, and hopefully get at least one scrimmage in,” Andreassi said.
CLARION-LIMESTONE 24
Kalyssa Ferguson 1 1-4 4, Raegan Love 1 2-2 5, Julianna Schwabenbauer 3 1-4 7, Corrine Hepfl 1 0-0 2, Hannah Beggs 1 0-0 2, Erika Meals 2 0-0 4. Totals: 9 4-10 24.
KARNS CITY 27
Naomi Venesky 6 3-5 15, Alivia Farren 2 0-0 6, Hanna Dailey 0 3-6 3, Taylor Ritzert 0 1-4 1, Hannah Summerville 0 2-2 2, Maddy Mahood 0 0-0 0. Totals: 8 9-17 27.
C-L 8 7 5 4 — 24
KC 4 6 4 13 — 27
3-point goals: Clarion-Limestone 2 (Ferguson, Love); Karns City 2 (Farren 2).
Feb. 24: District 8/9 Class 3A semifinals, TBD
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