CLARION — The Karns City girls basketball team doesn't like blemishes.

The Gremlins had just one this season, an uncomfortable smudge on what has been a perfect season and they desperately wanted to erase it.

Mission accomplished.

Karns City, which lost to Redbank Valley five weeks ago for its only loss of the season, met the Bulldogs again in a District 9 Class AA semifinal game at Clarion University Thursday night.

The Gremlins left little doubt about the outcome in this one, roaring to a 20-point lead at halftime on the way to a 57-33 win.

Was that loss to Redbank Valley Jan. 20 still a topic of conversation for the Karns City players?

You bet a KSAC title medal it was.

“We talked about it all week,” said Karns City junior point guard Annie Hegedus. “We were so excited to play this game. We were ready to play.”

That was apparent from the opening tip as Karns City (23-1) opened the game on a 15-4 run.

Redbank Valley (15-9) chipped away and trailed by just five at the end of the first quarter, but Karns City smothered the Bulldogs with its defense in the second quarter and hit seven 3-pointers in the first half to take a 39-19 lead after 16 minutes.

Junior guard Emily LoPresti scored all of her team-leading 14 points in the first half.

“We were looking from the beginning to push the ball,” LoPresti said. “We didn't like that loss last time. We won this time and we're proud of that.

“Those 3-pointers, that fired us up a lot,” LoPresti added.

Hegedus hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first half, including two big ones in the opening quarter, and finished with 11 points. Shanel Preston also hit a pair from behind the arc in the first half and finished with 12 points.

The hot Karns City shooting forced Redbank Valley coach Jason Kerr to abandon a plan that had worked in the first two meetings.

“They didn't shoot well in the first two games,” Kerr said. “Give them credit, they hit everything they took (tonight).

“We tried to extend out on their shooters (after the barrage of 3-pointers,” Kerr added. “And that didn't work, either. That was the best I've seen them play in a long time.”

Karns City's defense was just as lethal as its offense.

The Gremlins flustered Redbank Valley sophomore Brooke Hinderliter, who came into the game averaging 20 points per contest.

The Gremlins turned Hinderliter into a passer instead of a shooter and a slasher and the Bulldogs' star had just six points through three quarters.

She finished with 13 to lead Redbank.

“I can't talk enough about (senior guard) Emily Schumacher, who was on Hinderliter all night long,” said Karns City coach Dave Kerschbaumer. “Our kids bought into our game plan. We went over it three days in practice. Shoe did a great job just keeping (Hinderliter) in front of her.”

Redbank Valley committed 29 turnovers and Karns City turned the takeaways into 24 points.

The Bulldogs attempted just 33 shots.

“When we get turnovers, our kids are looking to finish off of it,” Kerschbaumer said. “They aren't satisfied with just the turnover, they want to score off that. I thought we did a good job finishing off of the turnovers.”

Karns City opened the second half on a 10-2 run to take its biggest lead of the night at 49-21 before taking its foot off the gas.

The win sends the Gremlins to the District 9 title game where they will meet Clarion-Limestone. Karns City will try to win its first district title in six years.

“It feels awesome,” Hegedus said. “We've come so far, we can't stop now.”

REDBANK VALLEY 33

Emma Kennemuth 2-5 2-5 6, Becca Dougherty 3-10 0-2 6, Brooke Hinderliter 3-5 5-6 13, Kaelyn Gruver 1-3 0-0 2, Madison McClaine 2-5 0-0 4, Megan Bain 0-0 0-0 0, Cassie Fink 1-4 0-2 2, Mary Adams 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Nolf 0-0 0-0 0, Leah Roundybusg 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Gourley 0-1 0-0 0, Samantha Landers 0-0 0-0 0, Cambri Hornberger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-33 7-15 33.

KARNS CITY 57

Emily LoPresti 4-12 4-4 14, LeeAnn Gibson 4-6 1-2 9, Annie Hegedus 3-6 2-2 11, Emily Schumacher 1-3 1-1 3, Shanel Preston 3-9 4-4 12, Alyssa Gibson 3-5 1-2 8, Brody Whited 0-0 0-0 0, Abby Wolfe 0-0 0-0 0, Saydie Moore 0-0 0-0 0, LeErin Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Clara Stoughton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-41 13-15 57.

Redbank Valley 13 6 4 10 — 33

Karns City18 21 10 8 — 57

3-point goals: Karns City 8 (LoPresti 2, Hegedus 3, Preston 2, A. Gibson); Redbank Valley 2 (Hinderliter 2)

Saturday: Karns City vs. Clarion-Limestone in District 10 Class AA title game at Clarion University, 3:30 p.m.