Karns City girls basketball routs Cranberry, 3-peats as District 9 champion: ‘This team deserves it’
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Brooklyn Taylor (24) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City celebrates its team's scoring in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City girls basketball team celebrate winning the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) looks to pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City Coach Steve Andreassi gives Naomi Venesky (1) a high five in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City Coach Steve Andreassi smiles after his team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) smiles before receiving her medal after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) scores in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) scores while Cranberry's Haylie Gregory (10) blocks in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to reach the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Chloe Fritch (4) drives toward the net in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Hanna Dailey (13) battle for the ball with Cranberry in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) hugs assistant coach LeeAnn Conto after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) hugs Coach Steve Andreassi after receiving her medal after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Chloe Fritch (4) battles for the ball with Cranberry's Raegan Antrilli (3) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City girls basketball team celebrate winning the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship in their locker room at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) block Cranberry in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) steals the ball from Cranberry's Avery Coe (30) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City girls basketball team celebrate winning the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) passes the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City Coach Steve Andreassi gives the girls directions in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City Coach Steve Andreassi smiles after his team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives the ball down the court in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) signals a play to her teammates in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Karns City girls basketball team celebrate winning the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship in their locker room at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) goes in for a layup in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) shoots after being fouled in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) looks to pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to reach the net while Cranberry's Jadyn Shumaker (22) and Haylie Gregory (10) try to block in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Kira Cutway (0) hugs Coach Steve Andreassi after receiving her medal after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Brooklyn Taylor (24) hugs Coach Steve Andreassi after receiving her medal after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Giada Bonetto (22) smiles after receiving her medal after the team won the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Savanna Prescott (14) looks to pass the ball in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Chloe Fritch (4) battles for the ball with Cranberry's Raegan Antrilli (3) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) steal the ball from Cranberry's Avery Coe (30) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) attempts to reach the net while Cranberry's Raegan Antrilli (3) tries to block her in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) attempts to reach the net while Cranberry's Raegan Antrilli (3) tries to block her in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to reach the net while Cranberry's Emma Morrow (40) tries to block in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Chloe Fritch (4) drives toward the net while Cranberry's Jadyn Shumaker (22) blocks in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) attempts to reach the net while Cranberry's Jadyn Shumaker (22) and Haylie Gregory (10) try to block in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Shae Pistorius (11) try to steal the ball from Cranberry's Raegan Antrilli (3) and Haylie Gregory (10) in the District 9 Class 3A girls basketball championship at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium Saturday, March 1, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
CLARION — Steve Andreassi was living every basketball coach’s dream in the first half Saturday.
With the District 9 Class 3A title on the line against Cranberry, his Karns City girls team was playing exceptionally well on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, the Gremlins shot 60% (15 of 25) from the field during the first two quarters. Meanwhile, the defense was harassing the Berries’ every move, forcing 20 turnovers in the same span.
The result was a third consecutive district crown in which the Gremlins never trailed while defeating Cranberry 50-32 at Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium.
“We played as well in the first half as we have all year,” Andreassi said. “On defense, we played a 1-3-1 and 3-2 zone and man. We threw the kitchen sink at them. I talked with my assistants before the game, and we decided to do it.”
The two teams previously met twice this season — KC wins in the regular season and KSAC semifinals — and the Berries scored a combined 53 points.
At least Cranberry coach Carrie Melat knew what her team’s offense would be facing at the start of the game … or so she thought.
“I didn’t expect them to come out in zone,” she said. “They didn’t play much of that in the first two games.
“Our plan today was to be more aggressive getting the ball into the paint, but we were impatient and forced a lot of passes. The ball was in our hands one moment, and then it wasn’t.”
What ensued was a first quarter in which the Berries (17-6) struggled just getting shots off. In fact, when Melat called a timeout with 4:01 left in the period, Cranberry had committed eight turnovers, attempted no shots and trailed 8-0.
The Berries regrouped somewhat and were down 16-8 entering the second quarter.
“All the points they scored in the first quarter were from rebounds or free throws,” Andreassi said. “They did not score on any set plays.”
While the Berries had just begun to find their footing on the offensive end, their defense was about to be put on its heels in earnest.
Junior guard Naomi Venesky scored 10 of her game-high 25 points in the second period, pacing KC to 23 points in the quarter and a 39-17 halftime lead.
Venesky, named the game’s MVP, has scored 64 points in her team’s last three wins.
“I push myself to be the best,” she said. “Whether it’s getting to the hoop, getting that kick for a 3-point shot or finding one of my teammates inside, it all falls together as part of the game for me.”
KC (22-3) slowed things down in the second half and, due in part to turnovers, attempted just 13 shots in that span. But the defense wasn’t about to let a 20-plus point lead evaporate.
When Savanna Prescott drew a player-control foul from Cranberry’s Raegan Antrilli, followed by Venesky’s trey, the Gremlins held a 48-27 lead with 6:38 remaining.
Brooklynn Taylor added nine points in the victory.
Jadyn Shumaker led the Berries with 11.
Prescott, a senior forward, was one of several players who basked in the glow of a third straight district championship.
“If you would have told me my freshman year that we’d end up winning three in a row, I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” she said. “But this team deserves it. We deserve to go as far as we possibly can.”
Based on the intangibles he’s seen from his players, Andreassi agrees.
“We’ve learned and become a better team from our three losses (all to Redbank Valley, a Class 2A team). “These girls never wavered.”
The Gremlins defeated Kane in 2023 and Brookville last year in the district final.
KC and Cranberry will now prepare for the PIAA Tournament, which begins Friday. The Gremlins will play host to Ellwood City, the fourth-place team from District 7, at 7p.m. at Moniteau High School.
CRANBERRY 32
Darien Wenner 3 2-4 8, Raegan Antrilli 3 0-1 6, Danica Wenner 0 1-1 1, Jadyn Shumaker 3 5-6 11, Avery Coe 2 1-2 6, Elena Ishman 0 0-0 0, Haylie Gregory 0 0-0 0, Sarah Schoch 0 0-0 0, Emma Morrow 0 0-0 0, Cassandra Scarbrough 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 9-14 32.
KARNS CITY 50
Naomi Venesky 9 4-4 25, Chloe Fritch 2 2-2 6, Hanna Dailey 2 0-4 4, Savanna Prescott 2 0-4 4, Brooklynn Taylor 4 0-0 9, Maddie Mahood 1 0-0 2, Hannah Summerville 0 0-0 0, Alivia Farren 0 0-0 0, Charlie Surman 0 0-0 0, Shae Pistorius 0 0-0 0, Giada Bonetto 0 0-0 0, Chloe Larimore 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 6-14 50.
Cranberry 8 9 8 7 — 32
Karns City 16 23 6 5 — 50
3-point goals: Cranberry 1 (Coe); Karns City 4 (Venesky 3, Taylor)
Friday: PIAA first round, TBD
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