KARNS CITY — The winning formula for Karns City's girls basketball team is very simple for head coach Steve Andreassi: the Gremlins must win the battle for rebounds and have a player step up every game to complement star guard Emily Hegedus in scoring.

The Gremlins were unable to do either Friday night.

Moniteau dominated the boards, 47-28, and held the Gremlins to just 17 percent (7-of-41) from the field in a 38-32 victory for the visiting Warriors.

Hegedus scored 28 of KC's 32 points and made all seven of the team's field goals.

“Up until now, we've been able to have a second player in double digits with her,” said Andreassi. “We played five sophomores tonight and I think there was a panic mode with the younger players.”

Moniteau (3-3) faced its own dose of adversity, with senior center Emma Bair spending nearly 14 minutes of the game on the bench in foul trouble. She still managed 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, but Moniteau's performance with her on the bench was also noteworthy.

Bair's fourth personal foul came with 1:18 left in the third quarter and she exited the game. Kristin Auvil promptly drained a baseline jumper to put the Warriors up 26-22, the same margin they led by entering the fourth quarter.

Bair also spent almost six minutes on the bench in the second quarter, but KC (4-2) was unable to take advantage as the game was tied at 16-16 at halftime.

“We talk about that a lot,” Moniteau coach Dee Arblaster said of performing without Bair on the court. “Emma is our leader, but the other girls know they have to step up.”

Izzy Bair answered the call in the final period. She scored on a drive to the basket with 3:20 left, pushing Moniteau's lead to 33-27. Izzy Bair ended the game with 12 points, seven of them coming in the final quarter.

“She's our motor,” said Arblaster. “She does whatever we ask her to do.”

Hegedus did her best to keep Karns City's hopes alive. She hit two free throws with 2:38 left in the game to cut Moniteau's lead to 33-30, then got an off-balance shot to fall that made it 35-32 with a minute remaining.

But Auvil and Izzy Bair combined to make three free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Karns City had 17 turnovers in the game, not an extraordinary amount, but 10 of them came in the second half.

“Between the turnovers and bad shot selection, it was not quality offensive basketball on our part,” said Andreassi. “And if we can't have an advantage in rebounds, we're probably not going to win, especially against (Moniteau).”

“We missed a lot of shots tonight (15-of-53), but if we can rebound, it definitely helps our chances,” said Arblaster.

MONITEAU 38

Kristin Auvil 1 2-2 4, Bailey Hartle 0 1-2 1, Andie Arblaster 3 0-0 7, Izzy Bair 5 1-2 12, Mia Loos 1 0-0 2, Emma Bair 5 2-2 12, Aslyn Pry 0 0-0 0, Alex Hartle 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 6-8 38.

KARNS CITY 32

Alyssa Stitt 0 1-2 1, Madison Kelly 0 2-2 2, Emily Hegedus 7 13-18 28, Livia Andreassi 0 1-2 1, Sara Knox 0 0-1 0, Kate Slaugenhoup 0 0-0 0, Emma Clark 0 0-0 0, Emily Huff 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7 17-24 32.

Moniteau 12 4 10 12 — 38

Karns City13 3 6 10 — 32

3-point goals: Moniteau 2 (Arblaster, I. Bair); Karns City 1 (Hegedus).

Wednesday: Moniteau at Carl Truance Tournament, Punxsutawney

Thursday: Karns City at Oil City Tournament