PIAA girls basketball: Karns City’s defense, Savanna Prescott smother Ellwood City in first-round win
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) scores in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City celebrates their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) blocks Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) smiles on the court in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1), Madison Mahood (52) and Chloe Fritch (4) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) scores while Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) blocks in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) looks to pass the ball around Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives around Ellwood City's Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) looks to steal the ball from Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Members of the Karns City community cheer on the girls basketball team in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) blocks Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) looks to pass the ball around Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City celebrates its victory over Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Savanna Prescott (14) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives toward the net in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) blocks Ellwood City's Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City celebrates its victory over Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) drives around Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) drives toward the net around Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Madison Mahood (52) and Chloe Fritch (4) celebrate their team scoring in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives around Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Savanna Prescott (14) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Hannah Summerville (3) hugs Coach Steve Andreassi after their victory against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) is blocked from scoring by Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) and Madison Mahood (52) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) passes the ball around Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) is double teamed by Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) reacts to scoring in the first quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) reacts to scoring in the first quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) passes the ball after Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) and Caitlin Kreitzer (2) double teams her in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) steals the ball from Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns CIty's Savanna Prescott (14), left, Naomi Venesky (1), Chloe Fritch (4) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) celebrate a play in the third quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Karns CIty's Naomi Venesky (1), left, Chloe Fritch (4) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) celebrate a play in the third quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) scores in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City celebrates their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) blocks Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) smiles on the court in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1), Madison Mahood (52) and Chloe Fritch (4) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) scores while Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) blocks in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) looks to pass the ball around Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) drives around Ellwood City's Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) looks to steal the ball from Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Members of the Karns City community cheer on the girls basketball team in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) blocks Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) looks to pass the ball around Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City celebrates its victory over Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Savanna Prescott (14) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives toward the net in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) blocks Ellwood City's Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City celebrates its victory over Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) drives around Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) drives toward the net around Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Madison Mahood (52) and Chloe Fritch (4) celebrate their team scoring in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) drives around Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Savanna Prescott (14) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hannah Summerville (3) hugs Coach Steve Andreassi after their victory against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) is blocked from scoring by Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) and Madison Mahood (52) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) passes the ball around Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Brooklyn Taylor (24) is double teamed by Ellwood City's Caitlin Kreitzer (2) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) reacts to scoring in the first quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) reacts to scoring in the first quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Hanna Dailey (13) passes the ball after Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) and Caitlin Kreitzer (2) double teams her in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Chloe Fritch (4) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Hannah Summerville (3) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) steals the ball from Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) and Carah Kreitzer (25) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Savanna Prescott (14), left, Naomi Venesky (1), Chloe Fritch (4) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) celebrate a play in the third quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Karns CIty's Naomi Venesky (1), left, Chloe Fritch (4) and Brooklyn Taylor (24) celebrate a play in the third quarter of their game against Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
CHERRY TWP — Karns City got cozy in an abode that wasn’t its own. The Gremlins made sure Ellwood City couldn’t do the same.
Deploying myriad defenses, the Gremlins made the WPIAL Class 3A semifinalists feel uneasy from the jump, holding the Wolverines below 20 points until late in the third quarter of a 44-31 Karns City win at Moniteau High School.
The District 9 champion Gremlins (23-3) didn’t have the seating capacity in their own gym to host the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball first-round playoff game Friday night.
“This is kind of like a home away from home,” Karns City coach Steve Andreassi said. “We were very proud to represent the KSAC here within a KSAC gym.”
Karns City's Naomi Venesky (1) and Savanna Prescott (14) celebrate their victory of Ellwood City in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Despite having trouble solving the Gremlins’ defense all game, Ellwood City (15-11) pulled within seven points midway through the third quarter with a 3-pointer by Caityln Kreitzer. That make followed a Kayla Jones trey 43 seconds earlier. The former 3-pointer was the Wolverines’ first made field goal in a span of 9:09 that bridged halftime.
Karns City’s Naomi Venesky dealt with matters by scoring all seven points of a 7-0 run over the next 2:29.
“Playing here, it was, like, kind of sad,” Venesky said. “Like, we would want to play at our home court, play at KC. But, here, it’s our second home. We’ve played here before multiple times. ... It wasn’t that much of a difference, but we just had to get a feel for it, especially in this game.”
Venesky’s burst was capped by an and-one under the basket. She bucketed nine points during that third frame and ended with a game-high 16.
“I knew I had to go to the hoop,” Venesky said. “I didn’t really think I was going to draw a and-one or anything, but after that, my blood’s pumping and I’m like, ‘I need more of it. I need to score more.’”
The Gremlins threw a mix of 1-3-1 and 3-2 zones at Ellwood City. Karns City ended up sticking to man-to-man in the third. The Wolverines scored just three points in the previous frame.
Karns City's Savanna Prescott (14) tries to steal the ball from Ellwood City's Kayla Jones (23) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
“We played the best defense we’ve played the whole season,” said Savanna Prescott, who posted 12 points for the Gremlins. “We stayed focused the whole game, positive the whole game.”
Delaney Sturgeon, Kayla Jones and Kreitzer averaged 43.5 points per game for the Wolverines entering the night, Andreassi said.
“They love transition. We shut the transition down,” Andreassi said. “They did hit some 3s. No. 2 (Kreitzer), like many other girls we’ve seen this year, loves to get to the hoop, and we didn’t let her get to the hoop.”
At first, the Gremlins weren’t thrilled with the venue. Their performance changed all of that.
“Once we got to playing, we were like, ‘We’re so happy that we played here,’” Prescott said. “We wouldn’t have fit that many fans in our own gym. It was crazy. I was so thankful for all the fans that came out to watch. It was awesome to win on a ‘home’ court.”
Karns City will square off with District 6 champion Central Cambria (18-8) in the next round at 7 p.m.Tuesday at Armstrong High School. The Red Devils beat Keystone Oaks 60-35 Friday night.
Karns City's Brooklynn Taylor (24) drives around Ellwood City's Delaney Sturgeon (21) in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament at Moniteau High School on Friday, March 7, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Ellwood City 8 3 12 8 — 31
Karns City 13 10 10 11 — 44
ELLWOOD CITY 31
Delaney Sturgeon 4 1-2 11, Kayla Jones 2 3-4 8, Caitlyn Kreitzer 2 0-0 5, Carah Kreitzer 1 1-2 4, Lena Lucarelli 1 1-2 3. Totals: 10 6-10 31.
KARNS CITY 44
Naomi Venesky 6 4-6 16, Savanna Prescott 5 2-5 12, Brooklynn Taylor 3 2-4 8, Chloe Fritch 1 0-0 3, Hanna Dailey 1 0-0 3, Hannah Summerville 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 8-15 44.
3-point goals: Ellwood City 5 (Sturgeon 2, Jones, Car. Kreitzer, Cai. Kreitzer); Karns City 2 (Fritch, Dailey)
Tuesday: Karns City vs. Central Cambria, TBD
