KARNS CITY — Tyler Kepple has never met a 3-pointer he didn’t like — which is okay because he’s so good at them.

Kepple, a junior guard for Karns City, has been hitting the 3-ball at a torrid pace this season.

Following Friday’s 58-49 KSAC South victory over Union, Kepple has drained 67 treys, giving him 159 for his career — with another game Tuesday against Moniteau and his entire senior campaign ahead of him.

It is believed the school standard for career 3-pointers was 145, set by Tyler Callihan from 2002-05.

“Yeah, I’m pretty proud to have that many 3s,” Kepple said. “It’s not something, though, that I go into a game and think ‘Man, I’m going to hit all these 3s.’”

“He started out being able to shoot from that distance at a young age,” Gremlins coach Chris Bellis said. “So, he was able to get on the floor as a freshman.”

Kepple said he started shooting from outside in junior high, “and I worked real hard on it. It comes easy now,” he noted.

That experience has shown in his first three varsity seasons. As a freshman, he totaled 41 treys, then followed up with 51 as a sophomore.

All told, Kepple has 771 points, 477 coming via 3-pointers.

“He has a the green light,” Bellis said. “If he’s open, we’re comfortable he can shoot. He has a little more range than the rest. He can get a few more shots off and knock them down.”

With the success, Kepple is trying to carve out his own niche with the program, something Callihan was able to accomplish.

Callihan graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,546 points and was the first two-time Butler Eagle Boys Player of the Year. Callihan still holds Karns City’s single-season 3-point record of 72, which he set his junior season.

Now, it’s Kepple’s turn to shine. He takes a serious approach to shooting, as well as his former and current teammates.

Last season,along with Kepple’s 51, Tucker Preston added 44, Brandyn Bowser 23 and Ethan Williams 21. With the latter three now graduated, Kepple is currently joined by Josh Wallace, who has 26.

“Percentage-wise, Tyler’s been good all three years,” Bellis said. “His shot selection is good. We always try to make one-third of our 3-point shots and he’s well over that.”

As a freshman, Kepple connected on 35 percent of his attempts (41 of 117), then 36.2 as a sophomore (51 of 141). Through last Monday’s game, Kepple was firing at a 37.4-percent clip (61 of 163).

“A lot depends on feel,” Kepple said. “Sometimes, I get the ball and my feet hit and I feel confident.”

Kepple pairs with junior guard David Olszak in practice to shoot some 3-pointers and other drills. Bellis stresses that Kepple is always looking to improve in all areas.

“He goes to the basket better,” Bellis said. “He’s a leader.”

The 3-pointer, however, is still Kepple’s bread and butter.

“I don’t anticipate it as I’m shooting,” Kepple said. “I just get it and if I’m open, I try to stick it.”

Said Bellis, “He’s improved each year. We have confidence in him knocking those down.”