CLARION - If he could, Karns City boys basketball coach Steve Andreassi would bottle it.

He could make a fortune, but he'd certainly settle for the District 9 Class AA championship.

Using an effective transition game against Port Allegany Thursday, the Gremlins broke a halftime tie by scoring 17 of 21 third-quarter points to take a 56-41 victory and the district title at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium.

Karns City (19-7) qualified for the PIAA playoffs and will face the District 10 runner-up March 5 at a site and time to be determined.

The first half saw seven ties, eight lead changes and both teams deadlocked at 22.

"We became more aggressive. We penetrated and beat them up the court," said Andreassi. "You saw how many different guys got layups."

The Gators used four 3-pointers, including three by Willie Bova, to keep pace with Karns City in the half.

"I thought that we can't keep giving up easy baskets and we missed some easy baskets. That's not a good combination," said Gators coach Rob Raudenbush.

Karns City led 24-20 late in the first half, but while trying to run the clock for a final shot, Mark Ferguson was called for traveling.

In frustration, he spiked the ball and was assessed a technical foul. Port Allegany's Craig Flint sank both free throws, then, with the ball back, the Gators held for the final shot.

Flint tossed in a buzzer beater to pull Port Allegany even.

"Mark got that technical and was down, but the guys tried to pick him up," said Andreassi.

Ferguson opened the second half by draining a 3-pointer just 14 seconds in. That helped kick-start a 13-2 run and allowed the Gremlins to open a 35-24 advantage.

"He came out and hit that 3 and it got him going," said Andreassi. "That's the best thing that could have happened."

In the third quarter, Karns City's Tyler Callihan had three long passes that led to baskets by Nathan Knox, David Black and Josh Behrens. Callihan also scored off a steal as did Black.

"Tyler is such a good rebounder," said Raudenbush. "Boy, if your not back and seeing the ball. …

"It was good execution on Karns City's part. They do a nice job on the running lanes," Raudenbush added.

"A little more (scoring) balance helps create a little more for me," said Callihan. "When they're hitting the shots, it opens things up."

Any chance the Gators (16-10) had of coming back, though, was dashed early in the fourth quarter.

Their first two baskets of the frame were answered by 3-pointers from Knox and Black as the Gremlins built a 45-30 lead with 6:30 left.

"I think they got a little tired on us rebounding," said Callihan. "Once it got to me, I'd dribble and find someone down the court.

"That's what we like to do," he added.

The Gremlins led by as many as 18 points, 51-33, with 3:07 remaining to ice the game.

"They did a good job taking away the 3s," said Raudenbush. "I thought we would have a chance to establish an inside game. If we did that, it might have helped outside.

"(The first-half 3-pointers) definitely kept us in it. That was our game most of the year. That's part of our game," Raudenbush added.

Callihan led the Gremlins with 19 points and Knox added 17. For the Gators, Flint (18) and Bova (17) accounted for 35 of the team's 41 points.

Not many believed the Gremlins would have had a chance to win the District 9 crown, but Andreassi said he knew the parts of the puzzle could be in place.

"I felt this team had unlimited potential," said Andreassi. "We had players at spots and they could do their role. They brought themselves together.

"They could've folded when we lost three games in a week (Jan. 31 against Union, Feb. 4 vs. Moniteau and Feb. 7 vs. DuBois Central Catholic).

"Their character, though, would not let that happen."

PORT ALLEGANY 41

Craig Flint 5 7-8 18, Dan Roche 0 0-0 0, Willie Bova 6 2-4 17, Devan Tucker 0 0-0 0, Brian Mickle 1 0-0 2, R.J. Shively 0 0-0 0, Eli Harrier 0 0-0 0, Colby Brookens 00-0 0, Guy Moses 0 0-0 0, Mike Hancock 0 0-0 0, Robert Tomac 2 0-1 4. Totals: 14 9-13 41.

KARNS CITY 56

David Black 3 0-0 7, Tyler Callihan 7 5-7 19, Nathan Knox 7 2-2 17, Mark Ferguson 2 1-2 6, Ryan Earley 1 1-5 3, Steve Black 0 0-0 0, John Geibel 0 0-0 0, Jeremy Bowser 0 0-0 0, Matt Allen 0 0-0 0, Blake Armstrong 1 0-0 2, Josh Behrens 1 0-1 2, Charlie Zaludek 0 0-0 0, Josh Fiscus 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 9-17 56.

3-point goals:

Bova 3, Flint; D. Black, Knox, Ferguson

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