KARNS CITY — The start was something Karns City could use.

Shady Side Academy turned the ball over nine times in the first quarter and freshman point guard Karis Thomas went to the bench with two fouls early in the team’s PIAA Class 3A first-round girls basketball tournament game Friday night on the Gremlins’ floor.

But the hosts managed to score only three points and trailed by six at the end of the opening period.

“When your point guard goes out, you’re probably going to have a few more turnovers,” Shady Side Academy coach Jonna Burke said. “We were taken out of our groove a little bit.”

The Bulldogs (24-3) quickly found their groove, however, outscoring the Gremlins 40-11 in the middle two quarters, invoking the mercy clock late in the third quarter and cruising to a 54-19 victory.

Karns City ended its season at 15-10.

“We were just out-skilled tonight ... no ands, ifs or buts about it,,” KC coach Steve Andreassi said. “No excuses.

“We were getting shots we wanted. We had open looks. We couldn’t get anything to fall. That’s the way it went all night. They’ve got 6-foot-2 girls up front. Rebounding was going to be a problem.”

The Bulldogs enjoyed a 36-20 advantage on the boards.

The Gremlins sank only four of 32 shots from the field. The bizarre first quarter ended wit h the two teams combining for 17 turnovers and 10 field goal attempts.

“I’m a defensive-minded coach. You can win with defense, especially in the playoffs,” Burke said. “I like the way we played tonight once we settled down.”

A layup by Emma Dailey pulled the Gremlins within 11-7 with 6:30 left in the first half. The Bulldogs went on a 15-1 run from there, opening up a 26-8 lead with a minute to go before halftime.

Karns City failed to score a field goal in the third period and Shady Side Academy got the mercy clock rolling with 2:07 left in that quarter when Maggie Spell drained a trey for a 44-12 advantage.

The Bulldogs, starting two freshmen and a sophomore, have won 11 of their last 12 games. Freshman point guard Thomas scored 14 points, had five steals, three assists and three rebounds. Spell, another freshman, led Shady Side Academy with 17 points. Cameron Capel, a sophomore, tallied five rebounds and four assists.

“I’m lucky to have two freshmen that good,” Burke said. “Karis is unselfish and probably doesn’t look for her own shot enough. It was good to see her hit some shots in the second half.”

Thomas drained three of her four treys in the final two quarters.

Emma Dailey led the Gremlins wit eight points, six rebounds and four steals. Brooklynn Taylor had five points, three rebounds and two assists.

Karns City won the District 9 3A Championship this season with three sophomores and a freshman in its starting lineup. The lone seniors on the squad are Dailey and Jordan Macurak.

“We’re a young team, but my two seniors are two unbelievable people,” Andreassi said. “They’ve led this team all year, verbally, communicating, keeping everyone on track. They’ve definitely left their mark on their program.

“They (Bulldogs) have a bunch of girls paying AAU ball. Our girls never backed away, played hard throughout. Our seniors had a lot to do with that.”

SHADY SIDE ACADEMY 54

Cameron Capel 2-5 0-0 5, Antoinette Fitzgerald 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Spell 6-11 3-5 17, Karis Thomas 5-8 0-0 14, Cate Sauer 2-4 2-2 6, Dre’Onna Lewis 0-0 0-2 0, Maggie Lovett 0-1 0-0 0, Cassie Sauer 4-8 2-3 10, Sydney Birchard 1-2 0-0 2, Madison Council 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-39 7-12 54.

KARNS CITY 19

Emma Dailey 1-6 6-13 8, Naomi Venesky 0-3 0-0 0, Chloe Fritch 0-5 2-2 2, Savanna Prescott 1-2 2-4 4, Brooklynn Taylor 2-13 1-3 5, Shae Pistorius 0-1 0-0 0, Hanna Dailery 0-2 0-2 0. Totals: 4-32 11-24 19.

Shady Side Academy 9 17 23 5 — 54

Karns City 3 6 5 5 — 19

3-point goals: Shady Side Academy 7 (S[ell 2, Capel, Thomas 4).