Karns City girls basketball, led by Naomi Venesky’s 22 points, beat Moniteau in District 9 semifinals
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) attempts to reach the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
The Karns City girls basketball team cheers on their teammates in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) steals the ball from Moniteau's Annalyce Baptiste (4) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) is prevented from scoring by Karns City in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives around Moniteau in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) runs the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) looks to pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to score in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Shae Pistorius (11) blocks Moniteau's Maddy Eury (12) from reaching the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) hangs onto the ball while Karns City's Shae Pistorius (11) and Chloe Fritch (4) block in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) blocks while Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) drives the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) drives the ball down the court while Moniteau's Maddy Eury (12) blocks in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) is prevented from scoring by Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) battles for the ball with Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) runs the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sayge Brunst (22) and Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) battle for the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) battles for the ball with Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) attempts to reach the net while Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) attempts to reach the net while Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) and Sayge Brunst (22) attempt to prevent her in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sayge Brunst (22) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) looks the pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) attempts to reach the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City girls basketball team cheers on their teammates in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) steals the ball from Moniteau's Annalyce Baptiste (4) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) is prevented from scoring by Karns City in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives around Moniteau in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) runs the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) looks to pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to score in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Shae Pistorius (11) blocks Moniteau's Maddy Eury (12) from reaching the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) hangs onto the ball while Karns City's Shae Pistorius (11) and Chloe Fritch (4) block in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) blocks while Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) drives the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) drives the ball down the court while Moniteau's Maddy Eury (12) blocks in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) is prevented from scoring by Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) battles for the ball with Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) runs the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sayge Brunst (22) and Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) battle for the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) battles for the ball with Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) attempts to reach the net while Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) attempts to reach the net while Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) and Sayge Brunst (22) attempt to prevent her in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sayge Brunst (22) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) looks the pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
CLARION — Karns City girls basketball took down Moniteau behind Naomi Venesky’s 22-point performance Friday night at Clarion Area High School.
Venesky had a strong first half, but the shots started really dropping in the second where she piled up 16 points, and the Gremlins ran off to a 52-30 win over their rivals in the semifinals of the District 9 Class 3A tournament to make March 1’s championship game.
“She was mired in a little slump in the last quarter of the season. She just works her tail off,” Karns City head coach Steve Andreassi said. “I can’t say that I’ve ever had a player that works as hard as Naomi.”
She scored six points in the first and mentioned there was talk at halftime to keep everyone’s energy high.
“Our heads were down for a little bit there and I knew that we had to bring the energy back, especially in the second half, because the first half wasn’t our greatest,” Venesky said.
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) battles for the ball with Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Venesky was a part of multiple big runs the Gremlins went on in order to build their lead. They went on a 12-0 run in the first quarter and a 13-4 run to start the third quarter to create much of the difference in the game.
“It all starts on the defensive end. And obviously, when they don’t score or they score a couple hoops, we have to maintain down there first. But, then on the other end, I feel like our transition game provided us with some buckets tonight,” Andreassi said. “One of our biggest things is, we talk about second-chance points off of offensive rebounds. … You’re able to make runs when you have extra possessions.”
The Gremlins’ speed was another reason they were able to jump ahead and maintain the lead.
“We always run up and down the court. It’s always been fast paced for us,” Venesky said. “That’s how we get fast transition points.”
The speed factored into Moniteau’s game plan, as well. Their goal was to keep the Gremlins from playing with too.
“We didn’t want to get in a running game with them, we wanted to try and keep the pace slow and try and stop them but they’re a good team,” Moniteau head coach Dee Arblaster said.
Sayge Brunst brought a spark to Moniteau with a pair of 3-pointers in the second half, she tied Charlotte Thompson and Alyssa Thompson with a team-high seven points for the game.
“I’m happy with my girls effort. We didn’t quit,” Arblaster said.
Moniteau's Sophia Fleeger (3) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball semifinals at Clarion High School on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
MONITEAU 30
Charlotte Thompson 1 5–6 7, Stage Brunst 2 1-2 7, Alyssa Thompson 3 0-0 7, Maddy Eury 1 0-0 2, Emily Matz 2 1-2 5, Sophie Fleeger 1 0-0 2.
KARNS CITY 52
Naomi Venesky 7 7-7 22, Brooklynn Taylor 5 1-4 12, Savanna Prescott 4 2-2 10, Hanna Dailey 0 1-2 1, Chloe Fritch 1 2-2 4, Hannah Summerville 1 0-0 3.
Moniteau 6 8 9 7 — 30
Karns City 16 8 18 10 — 52
3-point goals: Moniteau 3 (Brunst 2, A. Thompson 1); Karns City 3 (Venesky 1, Taylor 1, Summerville 1)
