Heartbreak
CLARION — Karns City senior point guard David Olszak appeared visibly distraught after Dalton Callihan's last-second shot bounced off the rim and fell to the floor.
The Gremlins boys basketball team's night was filled with near misses.
When Olszak's second free throw with 4.7 seconds remaining came up short, it set up the final scramble that ended with Brockway's 43-42 win in the first round of the District 9 Class AA boys basketball playoffs Wednesday night at Tippin Gymnasium.
It was a disappointing finish for Olszak, who felt the fourth-seeded Gremlins had grown together over the season.
Karns City finished the season 12-10 after starting 1-5.
“We're such a close group. I've been on a lot of teams and this is the closest team I've been on,” Olszak said. “Everybody is there for each other and everyone fought for each other. It was fun to be a part of.”
Nothing went right for the Gremlins against the fifth-seeded Rovers (10-13).
Karns City shot 30 percent (14-of-46) from the field and 45 percent (10-of-22) from the free-throw line.
Brockway coach Dave Bennett said the Rovers, who started the season 1-10, were OK being in a grind-it-out type of game.
“Fortunately the second half of the year when we started to string together wins, it was all because of defense,” Bennett said. “We've been playing well defensively.”
The Rovers took a 19-16 lead into the half on a 3-pointer by Anthony Serafini, who scored a team-high 16 points.
Brockway would extend its lead to a game-high six by the middle of the third quarter.
“We had to start executing our stuff,” Olszak said. “This is a different atmosphere for a lot of guys. It takes about a quarter to get settled in.”
Despite Karns City's struggles from the field, the Gremlins took a 39-38 lead with 1:07 remaining when Ethan Conto set up Olszak for a 3-pointer.
Olszak, who rolled his ankle in the third quarter, was playing with a noticeable limp.
Not that coming out was ever an option.
Olszak finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.“I don't know if he was really going to clear me, I just kinda told him,” Olszak said of his decision to return. “He wrapped it up and I came back here and jogged and that was it.”Two free throws from Dalton Callihan, who finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds, stretched the lead to three with 30 seconds left.Misfortune crept back in for the Gremlins after Callihan's free throws.Colton Hawk was caught running on the floor for a substitution after Brockway had already inbounded the ball.Karns City was assessed a technical for having too many players on the court.“I take full responsibility for it,” Gremlins coach Chris Bellis said. “I sent him to the table late and when he heard the whistle, he thought it was the whistle beckoning him into the game.”Serafini made two free throws — one from the technical and on the following possession — to cut the lead to 41-40.After Christian Turner missed a free throw, Jake Wineburg made a running layup and was fouled, converting the free throw to put the Rovers ahead 43-41 with 10.7 seconds remaining.On the ensuing possession, Olszak was fouled driving to the rim.He rattled in the front end of the one-and-one before putting the second shot short. One of many missed opportunities for the Gremlins.Bellis was still pleased with his team's effort, especially Olszak.“His effort in general is always good. He always plays hard and he's a guy we rely on,” Bellis said. “He had to do that on a bigger floor with a lot of defensive attention on him.”BROCKWAY 43Corey Carr 3 2-5 8, Jake Wineberg 3 1-1 9, Andrew Serafini 6 2-6 16, Quade Lundberg 1 1-2 3, Hunter Miller 1 0-0 3, Kris Potts 0 0-0 0, Jarrett Esposito 0 0-0 0, Lex Emblenton 1 0-0 2, Carter Adams 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 6-15 43.KARNS CITY 42David Olszak 3 5-9 13, Ethan Conto 1 1-2 4, Christian Turner 2 0-3 5, Colton Hawk 0 0-0 0, Dalton Callihan 7 4-8 18, Holden Martin 0 0-0 0, Reese Barger 0 0-0 0, Brendan Waltman 1 0-0 2, Chandler Turner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 10-22 42.Brockway 5 14 13 11 — 43Karns City5 11 13 13 — 423-point goals: Brockway 5 (Serafini 2, Rogos 2, Lundberg); Karns City 4 (Olszak 2, Conto, Turner)
