CLARION — The only thing more noticeable than the ice bag on LeeAnn Gibson's left hand was the smile on her face.

Karns City's junior forward was standing near midcourt and talking with family and friends following the Gremlins' 49-29 victory over Moniteau in Tuesday's District 9 Class AA girls basketball semifinal playoff at Clarion High School.

It was Gibson's first game back since breaking the ring finger on her left hand in a game against Clarion-Limestone Feb. 7. Her return to the court produced 22 points, nine rebounds and three steals to help Karns City (21-3) return to the district title game where it will face Redbank Valley at a time to be determined Saturday at Clarion University.

“During the game, there was a lot of adrenaline and I really didn't feel it,” Gibson said of her finger, which now has eight screws and a plate within it. “I didn't notice it until after the game. My teammates were really pumped up and I fed off of that.”

Sixteen of Gibson's points came in the first half, which ended with the Gremlins ahead 25-20.

“It was nice having her back in the lineup,” said Gremlins' coach Dave Kerschbaumer. “She's one of the toughest players I've coached. Her game is all about powering inside and she took a few shots early on tonight, but was able to block out (the discomfort).”

Moniteau's offense virtually disappeared in the second half as the Warriors managed just nine points and shot 20 percent (3-of-15) from the floor. The team's only points of the third quarter came on Alazia Greaves' 3-pointer that cut KC's lead to 30-23 with 4:15 left.

“We missed 14 layups,” lamented Moniteau coach Matt Stebbins. “We had our chances.”

Some credit, though, goes to Karns City's defense, which did a better job of contesting shots in the final two quarters.

“Coach (Kerschbaumer) told us to move our feet,” Gibson said. “That's all it was. We gave up some points at the free throw line in the first half. We were basically being lazy on defense.”

Greaves' third and final trey of the night put the Warriors down by 10 points (36-26) with 7:25 left in the game, but they drew no closer. Emily LoPresti's 3-pointer extended KC's edge to 41-27 with 4:39 on the clock.

LoPresti scored 12 points while Greaves paced Moniteau with 13.

It was the third time this season the Gremlins defeated their backyard rival.

“We knew Moniteau would be coming to get us,” Kerschbaumer said. “We were able to beat a pretty good team three times this year.”

If the Gremlins are to be crowned district champions, they will have to duplicate that feat on Saturday. They have already beaten Redbank Valley (18-6) twice this year.

Moniteau ends the season with an overall record of 15-9.

“We played a brutal schedule,” Stebbins said. “Nobody outside of our players and fans thought we'd do as well as we did. I'm proud of our girls for never giving up.”

MONITEAU 29

Kristina DeMatteis 2 1-4 5, Alazia Greaves 3 4-4 13, Stephanie McCall 3 3-4 9, Sara Hull 1 0-1 2, Kara Mentel 0 0-0 0, Alycia Brehm 0 0-0 0, Cortney Claypoole 0 0-0 0, Emma Bair 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 8-13 29.

KARNS CITY 49

Annie Hegedus 1 0-0 2, Emily LoPresti 4 2-4 12, Shanel Preston 2 3-4 8, LeeAnn Gibson 7 7-7 22, Alyssa Gibson 0 2-2 2, Emily Hegedus 1 1-2 3. Totals: 15 15-19 49.

Moniteau 11 9 3 6 — 29

Karns City15 10 9 15 — 49

3-point goals: Moniteau 3 (Greaves 3); Karns City 4 (LoPresti 2, Preston, L. Gibson).

Saturday: Karns City vs. Redbank Valley, District 9 Class AA championship game at Clarion University, time TBD