District 9 basketball championship breakdown: Karns City vs Cranberry key players, how to watch
Naomi Venesky and Hanna Dailey have a chance to do what few players get to — finish a dynasty with a fourth straight district championship.
The seniors will lead Karns City girls basketball into Saturday’s District 9 Class 3A championship game against Cranberry at 11 a.m. at Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium looking to put the finishing touches on four in a row.
The top-seeded Gremlins (23-2) enter as heavy favorites to do so, having beaten the Berries last year for the three-peat and handily beating them again in the KSAC tournament semifinals a few weeks ago. KC routed No. 4 Moniteau in Wednesday’s semifinals 43-23, and No. 2 Cranberry beat third-seed Brookville 57-55 in overtime in the other semi to get here.
Here’s what to know about the championship matchup:
Livestream: The game is expected to be livestreamed on YDL Sports Network or Explore Clarion. This will be updated once more information is released.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students on hometownticketing.com. Tickets are available in advance for all of “Super Saturday’s” championship games, according to the website.
Karns City: Put aside KSAC MVP (and Butler Eagle Player of the Year candidate) Venesky for a minute. Role players will have to step up to ensure the Gremlins four-peat as champs. Several players have rotated in this situation this season, but Dailey has had big games at Clarion University in the past, Andreassi said. She had four points a year ago in the title game.
Cranberry: Darien Wenner might be the best young player in District 9, or she’s close to it. The sophomore is averaging a few ticks under 20 points a game. The Gremlins contained her to four points in the KSAC tournament semifinals a few weeks ago. “She’s their engine,” Andreassi said. “We have to keep her from getting off good shots, and limit her getting to the foul line.”
They’re patient. Andreassi kept it simple when filling in that blank during an interview Thursday. It’s also what he liked about the Gremlins’ semifinal win the night before, when they shot 48.7% from the field.
“We didn’t force anything in our fast-break transition,” he said. “If we didn’t have that nice, easy shot, we pulled it out and ran our offense.”
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