Defense sends KC girls to District 9 championship
CLARION — In Tuesday’s District 9 Class 3A semifinal win over Kane, Brookville’s girls basketball team featured three players who scored 16 points apiece.
Against Karns City in Thursday’s championship game, the Raiders managed a much different sort of balance. No Brookville player reached double digits in points as Karns City won its second straight district title with a 36-20 victory at Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium.
“We are very satisfied with this win,” said KC coach Steve Andreassi. “After Chloe (Fritch, junior guard) went down with an injury last month, everybody had to pitch in. There’s no group of players I have ever coached who l’m more proud of than this team.”
And every player who entered the game for KC (17-8) Thursday contributed to a defense that frustrated the Raiders for four quarters.
Brookville’s first field goal of the game, from Eden Wonderling, did not come until 5:49 of the second quarter. Six turnovers led to just three shot attempts in the first quarter. In the second, the Raiders made just two of 11 shot attempts.
“We told our players before the game that we needed to keep Karns City in the 30s to have a chance to win and we did that,” said Brookville coach Mark Powell. “But their defensive pressure caused problems all night long for us.”
While Brookville (12-12) struggled to find offense, the Gremlins found some early on. Sophomore Naomi Venesky made three baskets in the opening period, including a trey that put KC up 12-2 with 1:33 left.
She finished with a game-high 15 points and hounded the Raiders on the other end of the court.
“We helped each other the entire game,” she said. “As usual, it was all as one. If feels really good to play well and help the team win a district title.”
Andreassi said defense like he saw out of his team Thursday must be ignited first by a collective mentality.
“It’s every girl doing what she can to make the other team uncomfortable,” he said.
The Raiders shot just 18% (seven of 39) on the night. Trailing 32-16 entering the fourth quarter, they had two different possessions in the final period last over a minute simply because they were unable to get a shot off against KC’s suffocating defense.
Karns City (17-8) will face District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge in a subregional playoff here next Friday.
BROOKVILLE 20
Samantha Whitling 2 0-0 4, Kerstyn Davie 1 1-2 3, Hannah Lundgren 0 2-2 2, Eden Wonderling 2 2-4 6, Kaida Yoder 2 1-5 5, Whitney Guth 0 0-0 0, Lily Plyler 0 0-0 0, Bentley Hughey 0 0-0 0. Totals: 7 6-13 20.
KARNS CITY 36
Naomi Venesky 6 0-0 15, Hannah Summerville 1 1-2 3, Hanna Dailey 1 0-0 2, Savanna Prescott 1 1-2 3, Hannah Buchanan 1 0-0 2, Brooklynn Taylor 3 0-0 7, Phoebe Brandon 1 2-3 4, Trinity McFarland 0 0-0 0, Carleigh Lucas 0 0-0, Allison Surman 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 4-7 36.
Brookville 2 8 6 4 — 20
Karns City 12 10 10 4 — 36
3-point goals: Karns City 4 (Venesky 3, Taylor).
March 1: Karns City vs. Chestnut Ridge at Clarion University
