KARNSCITY — Both teams had traveled this road before. Union lost a close game because of turnovers, and Karns City won one despite missing free throws.

They did so again Wednesday night, when the Gremlins held on for a 57-56 boys basketball victory over the Golden Knights, even though they made only 4 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter.

"We missed 18 free throws against A-CValley and still won by 14," KCcoach Steve Andreassi said. "If you keep missing foul shots in the final quarter, you're going to lose eventually.

"We've been lucky."

Union hasn't been so lucky.

The Golden Knights (7-12, 5-9) lost for the sixth time in eight games, with five of those losses coming by a margin of six points or fewer.

Union suffered 17 turnovers Wednesday, including six in the fourth quarter.

"It's been a very frustrating year, particularly because I know we have the talent to beat some of these teams we've been losing to,"Golden Knights coach Karen Davis said.

"We average 18 turnovers per game. That's way too many. We need to cut that in half," she added. "That's 10 possessions we're giving away without scoring. When you lose by a point or so, those lost possessions hurt."

The lead changed hands four times in the first half and the score was tied twice before the Gremlins (13-5, 11-3) assumed a 34-30 lead going into halftime.

Karns City never trailed in the second half, its lead peaking at 47-38 when Mike McConnell completed a three-point play with 3:33 left in the third quarter.

But the Gremlins couldn't put the game away because they couldn't knock down free throws.

Senior guard Mike Senopole sank one of two free throws with 44 seconds left to give KC a 57-53 lead. Union pulled to within three points when Gary Cooper nailed a free throw with 22 seconds to go.

KC's Kody Craig missed two shots from the line with 15 seconds left and the Golden Knights had a chance to tie.

Sophomore Neil Scott received a pass in the left corner, but he hesitated before dumping the ball inside to Cooper for a layup. The play cut the KClead to 57-56, but only 3.5 seconds remained.

Senior guard Nate Boltz and junior guard Spencer Varner, who combined for six 3-pointers, fouled out earlier in the quarter for Union.

Karns City turned the ball over on a deep pass with 2.4 seconds remaining, but Union was unable to travel the length of the floor to get off another shot.

Senopole's successful free throw — his only one of the game — turned out to be the difference.

"I don't know what the deal is there,"Senopole said of his team's woes at the line. "We seem to make shots early in the game and miss them late. And I know that's not good."

Senopole led the Gremlins with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Beck added 12 points and six boards. Mike McConnell had five assists. The Gremlins had a 36-33 edge in rebounds.

Cooper paced Union with 20 points and nine rebounds. Varner had 16 points, Boltz had 12 points and five assists, A.J. Ethriedge had nine rebounds.

UNION 56Nate Boltz 3-10 4-4 12, Gary Cooper 8-12 4-6 20, A.J. Ethriedge 2-4 0-2 4, Chase Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Neil Scott 1-1 1-2 4, Colby Davis 0-1 0-0 0, Scott Booth 0-5 0-0 0, Spencer Varner 5-10 2-2 16.

Totals: 19-43 11-16 56

KARNS CITY 57Mike Senopole 7-16 1-4 17, Cory Terwilliger 0-3 0-0 0, Mike McConnell 3-8 1-3 7, Cameron Turner 2-9 1-2 5, Matt McConnell 2-8 0-0 6, Chris Harmon 1-2 0-0 3, Kody Craig 2-3 1-6 5, Trevor Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Dan Everetts 0-1 0-0 0, Kevin Beck 5-11 2-2 12.

Totals: 23-63 6-17 57

Union 19 11 15 11—56Karns City 17 17 15 8—573-point goals: Boltz 2, Scott, Varner 4; Senopole 2, Matt McConnell 2, Harmon

JV: Karns City, 56-55 in OT (KC-Chris Harmon 20, Cody Williams 12, Josh Callender 10; U-Colby Davis 18, Neil Scott 12)

Friday: Union atClarion; Karns City atMoniteau