Redbank Valley surges back to beat Karns City boys basketball
Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) does a diving pass in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
KARNS CITY — Building a double-digit lead against Redbank Valley boys basketball is not easy, but Karns City managed to do it in both games against the Bulldogs this season.
Thursday night, the Gremlins’ edge swelled to 27-10 midway through the second quarter. But as was the case in the teams’ first meeting Dec. 9, when a 12-point lead evaporated in a 50-47 win for Redbank, KC faltered in the second half.
Leading 49-40 after three quarters, the Gremlins surrendered a 21-10 run to fall behind for good in a 66-63 loss at home.
“We talk to the guys all the time about weathering the storm and we didn’t do it tonight,” KC coach Jalen Price said.
Greysen Stewart drained a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs (14-4) to give them a 61-59 lead with 1:49 left in the game.
That was the score 40 seconds later when KC’s Owen Kaufman stole the ball at midcourt before passing ahead to Cole Johnston, who got his shot to fall despite contact from Redbank’s Jaxon Huffman.
But the Gremlins’ frustration hit its peak when the sequence led to Johnston being whistled for a charge.
Trevor Geibel’s bucket pulled the Gremlins (9-8) to within 64-63 with 10 seconds left before Braylon Wagner’s two free throws at the other end closed the scoring.
Johnston’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer was no good and the Gremlins walked off the court losers of five out of their last six games.
Karns City’s Owen Kaufman (1) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School.d Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Wagner averages 26 points per game. He scored 17 Thursday, as did Huffman. Kaden Sturgeon added 12 for Redbank.
“We knew they were trying to take away Braylon as much as they could,” said Bulldogs coach Jake Dougherty. “Our role players needed to step up and they did.
“Jaxon hit some big shots tonight, but I was most impressed with his defense.”
The Gremlins had Redbank on the ropes early.
Xavier Bartoe, who left the game early in the fourth quarter with an injured left ankle, drained two treys and Bryce Galan another to help KC take control. Kaufman had 10 points at halftime to lead all scorers.
“We were communicating defensively, boxing out and eliminating second-chance points,” Price said. “But late in the game, we couldn’t get back to playing our kind of basketball.”
Johnston paced KC with 15 points. Kaufman (11), Galan (11) and Geibel (10) also reached double figures.
KC’s one victory in its last six games was a 39-33 decision over a two-win A-C Valley team Jan. 16.
“Our losses have come against some really good teams,” Price said. “Redbank … I think Elk County Catholic and DuBois (Area) both have one loss.”
The Gremlins will look to get back on track Wednesday at Moniteau.
REDBANK VALLEY 66
Kaden Sturgeon 5 2-3 12, Braylon Wagner 6 5-8 17, Jaxon Huffman 5 4-6 17, Titus Smith 1 0-0 2, Jarrett Gould 3 1-2 9, Colton Edmonds 1 0-2 2, Greysen Stewart 2 2-2 7. Totals: 23 14-23 66.
KARNS CITY 63
Owen Kaufman 5 1-4 11, Bryce Galan 2 6-11 11, Cole Johnston 4 7-9 15, Xavier Bartoe 3 0-0 8, Trevor Geibel 5 0-0 10, Joshua Peters 1 6-6 8, Keagan Schrecengost 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 20-30 63.
Redbank Valley 10 11 19 26 — 66
Karns City 14 16 19 14 — 63
3-point goals: Redbank Valley 6 (Huffman 3, Gould 2, Stewart); Karns City 3 (Bartoe 2, Galan).
Wednesday: Karns City at Moniteau
Karns City’s Xavier Bartoe (23) dribbles past Redbank Valley defense in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Bryce Galan (3) shoots a 3-pointer in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Owen Kaufman (1) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School.d Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) does a diving pass in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Bryce Galan (3) dribbles around Redbank Valley’s defense in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Trevor Geibel (33) passes the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Trevor Geibel Xavier Bartoe (23) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Trevor Geibel (33) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) dribbles the ball past Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Nate Ridley, middle, watches as Karns City plays Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) shoots the ball past Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Xavier Bartoe (23) dribbles past Redbank Valley defense in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Bryce Galan (3) shoots a 3-pointer in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Owen Kaufman (1) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School.d Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) does a diving pass in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Bryce Galan (3) dribbles around Redbank Valley’s defense in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Trevor Geibel (33) passes the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Trevor Geibel Xavier Bartoe (23) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Trevor Geibel (33) shoots the ball in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) dribbles the ball past Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Nate Ridley, middle, watches as Karns City plays Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City’s Cole Johnston (11) shoots the ball past Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Karns City fell to Redbank Valley 66-63 in a boys basketball game Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Karns City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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