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Karns City girls basketball routs Cranberry, 3-peats as District 9 champion: ‘This team deserves it’

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.

Related Article: 2025 WPIAL, District 9, District 10 boys basketball tournament brackets: Matchups, scores, times Related Article: 2025 WPIAL, District 9, District 10 girls basketball tournament brackets: Matchups, scores, times
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

“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.

Related Article: Karns City girls basketball, led by Naomi Venesky’s 22 points, beat Moniteau in District 9 semifinals Related Article: Karns City basketball’s Chloe Fritch, 11 months after tearing ACL, back making an impact
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

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.

Related Article: Every 1,000-point scorer in Butler County: Top boys, girls basketball players at each high school
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

“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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