CLARION — Moniteau's defense has carried the squad throughout the season.

After Friday, it will carry the Warriors a little bit farther.

Moniteau did not allow a point to Brookville in the first 11 minutes of the game, then used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away in a 41-36 District 9 Class AA semifinal victory at Clarion High School.

The win sends Moniteau (14-9) to the championship game next Friday at Clarion University, where it will face Cranberry.

“Our defense is what we've hung our hat on all year,” Moniteau coach Mark Yeager said. “These kids are amazing. They have to play absolutely perfect defense and we did (Friday).”

Still, the win didn't come easy as Moniteau sank just 14 of 41 free throws, which kept the Lady Raiders close.

“If we shoot our free throws like we normally do, then this game isn't as close,” Yeager noted.

Moniteau couldn't have imagined a better start as it jumped out to a 12-0 lead with seven minutes left in the second quarter. Katie Brehm and Fontaine Glenn each contributed four points apiece to the run.

“We've been down by 19 in the fourth quarter once this year and forced overtime,” Brookville coach Mark Powell said. “We felt we are never out of it, but you can't fall behind.”

After the teams exchanged baskets, the Raiders (13-10) rode a wave, scoring the next seven points, thanks to a 3-pointer by Aisha Newsome and a 3-point play by Karly Reinsel and a free throw by Lanae Newsome to make it a five-point game.

A pair of free throws by Heather Porter gave Moniteau a 16-9 lead at halftime, but Brookville struck again, scoring eight points in a 56-second span, the latter basket a steal and score from midcourt from Aisha Newsome, to give the team its first lead of the game.

Yeager called a time out to regroup, which seemed to do the trick.

“We decided to call time out, draw up a play that worked and got a couple of shots,” Yeager said.

Amanda Sloan sank a shot from just inside the 3-point line, then Katie Brehm added two free throws to give Moniteau a 20-17 lead. Lanae Newsome sank a 3-pointer with 4:28 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 20.

Moniteau, however, finished out the frame with baskets by Glenn, Porter and Katie Brehm — the last two coming on assists by Glenn and Ashley Brehm, respectively — for a 26-20 lead, one the Warriors would not surrender.

Reinsel scored to open the fourth quarter before Ashley Brehm nailed a 3-pointer. When Newsome stole the ball and scored and Reinsel followed with another basket, Moniteau held a slim 29-26 lead with six minutes remaining.

Reinsel, however, would foul out 10 seconds later, which set off a free-throw parade in which Moniteau would attempt 24 shots the rest of the way, making just eight.

Brookville scored its last 10 points over the final 1:42 of the game to keep the score close.

“We were in foul trouble all night,” said Powell, who had three players foul out in the final quarter. “Karly definitely brings a toughness we need, especially as undersized as we are.”

Porter led all scorers with 13 points while Katie Brehm added eight points. The Raiders received 12 from Lanae Newsome and nine from Aisha Newsome.

Moniteau will now set its sights on Cranberry, which has won three consecutive district crowns and defeated Moniteau 49-39 on Jan. 20.

“Realistically, I don't think we're going to win the state playoffs,” Yeager said. “Our chance for hardware, as (Steelers coach) Mike Tomlin would say, is next Friday. Cranberry is an excellent, excellent team.

“We played them tough last time and cut it to two points, but they made their free throws down the stretch.”

Notes: Brookville had defeated Moniteau 44-39 on Dec, 19 and had won on a last-second shot by Lanae Newsome in last year's district semifinal game ... Sloan left the game after a collision in the third quarter, but returned. She would leave again early in the fourth quarter after feeling dizzy.

MONITEAU 41Ashley Brehm 1 2-8 5, Heather Porter 4 5-8 13, Amanda Sloan 1 0-1 2, Krista Snyder 0 3-14 3, Katie Brehm 3 2-5 8, Fontaine Glenn 3 0-1 6, Nikki Yeckel 0 0-0 0, Emily Rider 1 2-4 4.

Totals: 13 14-41 41.

BROOKVILLE 36Samantha Byerly 0 2-2 2, Aisha Newsome 4 0-0 9, Madison Hill 1 0-0 2, Karly Reinsel 3 1-1 7, Lanae newsome 5 1-2 12, Emily Ferraro 2 0-2 4, Amanda Ray 0 0-0 0, Katie Zents 0 0-0 0

Totals: 15 4-7 36.

Moniteau 8 8 10 15—41Brookville 0 9 11 16—363-point goals: Moniteau 1 (A. Brehm); Brookville 2 (A. Newsome, L. Newsome).

Friday: District 9 Class A Championship Game-Moniteau vs. Cranberry, 6 p.m. at Clarion University