ALIQUIPPA — The styles of play were contradictory. Evidently so.

WPIAL champion Aliquippa’s fast-paced offense and tireless defense proved to be too much for methodical Karns City in a PIAA Class 2A opening-round boys hoops playoff matchup on Saturday afternoon. The host Quips left with a 65-33 victory.

“Any time you play a WPIAL opponent, it’s definitely a step up in competition,” Gremlins coach Zach Kepple said. “They’re a phenomenal basketball team. They’re very crisp offensively and they’re relentless on defense … Our guys were slow to adjust there at the beginning. The second half, we definitely played better.

“It’s a big adjustment going from District 9 basketball to WPIAL basketball.”

“It’s apples and oranges,” Aliquippa coach Nick Lackovich said. “It’s a different game.”

For the first few minutes, at least, Karns City kept pace. The score was tied at four after four minutes had passed, then Aliquippa’s stingy defense showed up. Using a handful of Gremlins turnovers, the Quips (21-6) turned on their transitional game and went on an 18-0 run that carried into the second quarter.

“They’re fast and good competition,” Karns City forward Braden Grossman said. “They’re a good team. We just weren’t expecting that kind of speed, considering the teams we usually play.”

The game’s most telling sequence came at the outset of that frame when the Gremlins began with a minute-long possession. The Gremlins (22-6) tried to slow the pace down and get to their spots, but couldn’t drive or pass the ball into the arc. A giveaway at half-court led to a Donovan Walker and-one on the other side.

Juniors Taite Beighley and Hobie Bartoe both sank threes later on in the period, but their team faced a 23-point deficit at the midway point. They didn’t just lay down, however.

“It was just kind of a pride thing,” Kepple said. “These guys on our team, they’ve put in a lot of effort all year. We had a great season. That’s the thing I told them at halftime, ‘Don’t put your head down. Go out there, play hard for the rest of the game, and just have fun with it.’”

He also green-lighted any shots from inside the court’s volleyball line. With big man Shane Peters stationed under the rim, Karns City tried a handful of deep treys in the final 16 minutes, with forward and senior Micah Rupp connecting on two and Beighley another.

With a few ticks under 1:30 remaining, Kepple called a timeout to ask if his two seniors — Rupp and Grossman — if they wanted to have ovations at the next dead ball. They chose to instead finish out the campaign on the floor.

“I didn’t really want all the attention right there,” Rupp said. “I wanted to finish the game.”

“I’d rather go out on the court than on the bench,” Grossman added.

Both guys helped the program to a high level of success in their team in purple and gold.

“To win 20 basketball games in any year is a good feat,” Kepple said. “And we’ve won 20 the last two (seasons). Those guys were big parts of it.”

KARNS CITY 33

Micah Rupp 5 0-0 12, Shane Peters 4 0-0 8, Taite Beighley 3 0-0 8, Hobie Bartoe 1 1-2 4, Jacob Callihan 0 1-2 1. Totals: 13 2-4 33.

ALIQUIPPA 65

Qalil Goode 7 0-0 18, Donovan Walker 6 3-3 17, Demarkus Walker 4 0-0 9, Jayace Williams 3 0-0 6, Cameron Lindsey 3 0-0 6, Tiqwai Hayes 2 1-2 5, Quentin Goode 1 0-0 2, Michael Gaskins 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 4-5 65.

Karns City 4 7 11 11 — 33

Aliquippa 16 18 12 19 — 65

3-point goals: Aliquippa 7 (Q. Goode 4, Do. Walker 2, De. Walker); Karns City 5 (Beighley 2, Rupp 2, Bartoe)