CHERRY TWP — Whether it was from 20 feet, 10 feet or one foot, the Moniteau boys basketball team struggled to make a basket.

In a befuddling off-night from the floor, the Warriors' defense couldn't make up for it in a 48-35 home loss Wednesday.

It was just one of those nights.

“I'm hoping,” said Moniteau coach Mike Jewart. “We didn't have the energy we normally have, to be honest with you. We were pretty dead tonight. Pretty flat. When I got to the gym here today and I saw our team, that was a concern for me.

“Then when I saw them on the floor,” Jewart added, “it was a bigger concern for me.”

Moniteau shot just 6-of-22 in the first half and was down 27-17 at the break.

The cold shooting only got more frigid in the second half.

The Warriors finished the game shooting 26 percent and trailed by as many as 16 in the second half.

If it wasn't for a late flourish, Moniteau would have scored in the 20s.

A number of the Warriors' missed shots came in the paint.

“We must have missed 20 layups,” Jewart said.

Moniteau (8-6) was also thin with three players out with injury.

It caused a ripple effect throughout the rotation, Jewart said.

“It throws off the roles,” Jewart said. “ Guys have to do new things.”

Moniteau's defense kept the Warriors in the game early despite the shooting problems.

Moniteau led 4-3 late in the first quarter and forced North Clarion to shoot just 1-of-10 in the early going.

The Wolves, however, made an adjustment and were able to get Drew Gatesman to the hoop inside.

Gatesman finished with 22 points on 11-of-13 shooting.

“It was a total defensive games from both sides,” said North Clarion coach Andy Bish. “The key for us was when we got a little space, either from a pick-and-roll or a dump off, we were able to get inside and score. That was big for us because we weren't hitting a lot from the outside.”

Matson Higgins added 15 for North Clarion (9-4).

Ethan McDeavitt led Moniteau with 12 points. North Clarion focused on turning the dynamic senior point guard into a passer instead of a scorer.

“We wanted to limit him from getting in the gaps,” Bish said. “When they get in the gaps, they're going to get to the rim and we're either going to foul them or give them an open layup. We were really good at closing those gaps.”

For Moniteau, Thursday's practice is going to be a big one.

Jewart promised to go back to basics and also expressed concern over fatigue.

Moniteau will play its fourth game in eight days Friday. The Warriors have a junior varsity tournament Saturday and then play again Monday.

“We have a lot of basketball to play and I think the guys are getting tired,” Jewart said. “We're in the part of the season where they have to dig down deep and find it. Unfortunately, it's right in the middle of our toughest stretch.”

NORTH CLARION 48

Matson Higgins 5-10 2-3 15, Devon Walters 1-5 1-2 3, Jacob Bauer 0-1 3-5 3, Drew Gatesman 11-13 0-0 22, Chance Schmader 0-1 0-0 0, Collin Schmader 2-7 0-0 5, Josh Daum 0-1 0-0 0, Aiden Hartle 0-0 0-0 0, Dyllan Walters 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Byers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: `9-38 6-10 48.

MONITEAU 35

Ethan McDeavitt 5-13 2-3 12, Gage Neal 2-6 4-6 9, Kyle Pry 1-8 0-0 3, Mason Mershimer 0-3 0-2 0, Quinton Scriven 4-12 0-0 8, Dean Hershey 1-6 1-2 3, Chanz Diaz 0-1 0-0 0, Nate Kelly 0-0 0-0 0, Jake Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Tyler Steele 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Magerko 0-0 0-0 0, Conner Alferno 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-50 7-13 35.

North Clarion 10 17 6 15 — 48

Moniteau8 9 6 12 — 35

3-point goals: North Clarion 4 (Higgins 3, Collin Schmader); Moniteau 2 (Neal, Pry)

Friday: Moniteau at A-C Valley