The Karns City student section celebrate Karns City's victory over Otto Eldred during the district 9 boys playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

CLARION — The rough stretch Karns City encountered in Tuesday’s District 9 Class 2A semifinal basketball playoff game will not be remembered for long by the Gremlins and their fans.

Cole Johnston’s layup just before the final buzzer, however, will be talked about for years.

With just over two seconds left and KC all tied up with Otto-Eldred at 48, Johnston, a freshman, cut to the basket and received an inbound pass from Hobie Bartoe before laying in the basket that sends the Gremlins to Saturday’s title game with a 50-48 win.

“I set a screen for Taite (Beighley), came off of it and went to the basket. Nobody was guarding me, ” said Johnston.

There were two timeouts before the final sequence, first called by Karns City and then one by the Terrors.

“The play was designed for Taite, but I have confidence that any of the guys on the floor for us can make a big shot,” said Gremlins coach Zach Kepple. “I told Cole to head to the basket after setting the screen, but didn’t think he would be that wide open.”

Johnston’s bucket was the culmination of a fourth quarter that saw the Gremlins outscore Otto-Eldred 17-5. KC entered the period trailing 43-33.

“We told the guys before that fourth quarter that the opportunity to play for a district title is there, but we have to do the job right now,” said Kepple.

The rally began with Bartoe’s drive for two points. Jacob Callihan hit two free throws and Johnston added another basket to cut the lead to 43-39 with 5:30 left.

Late in the quarter, Beighley drained a trey and Bartoe turned a steal into the tying basket with 1:39 remaining. The Terrors turned the ball over at 1:23 and the Gremlins had possession for the duration of the game.

“We were up by 10 and that after we’d missed about 12 layups,” said Terrors coach Derrick Francis. “We can’t complain. It is what it is.”

Otto-Eldred (24-2), champion of the Northern Tier League, gained a firm grip on the game by shooting 67% (14 of 21) from the field in the second and third periods. KC went scoreless over the final 2:30 of the first half and Manning Splain’s basket sent the Terrors to the locker room with a 27-24 lead.

Momentum stayed with Otto-Eldred in the third as it outscored the Gremlins 16-9.

“We went cold there for a while and they were making shots,” said Kepple. “Otto is a good team, but there is no quit in our guys.”

Braxton Caldwell paced the Terrors with 15 points, 11 coming in the first half.

KC received 15 points from Beighley and 12 from Callihan.

The Gremlins (20-6) will face Redbank Valley (21-3) for the third time this season in Saturday’s title showdown. The teams split their two meetings in the regular season.

KARNS CITY 50

Hobie Bartoe 4 0-0 9, Taite Beighley 5 2-2 15, Luke Cramer 3 0-0 6, Cole Johnston 3 0-0 6, Jacob Callihan 5 2-3 12, Shane Peters 1 0-0 2, Colson Ritzert 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 4-5 50.

OTTO-ELDRED 48

Manning Splain 6 0-0 14, Davey Schenfield 1 1-2 3, Landon Francis 4 2-2 12, Braxton Caldwell 6 3-3 15, Shene Thomas 2 0-1 4, Isaiah Demick 0 0-0 0, Hunter App 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 6-8 48.

Karns City 16 8 9 17 — 50

Otto-Eldred 9 18 16 5 — 48

3-point goals: Karns City 4 (Beighley 3, Bartoe); Otto-Eldred 4 (Splain 2, Francis 2).

Saturday: Karns City vs. Redbank Valley, District 9 Class 2A championship game at Clarion University, 8:30 p.m.

Karns City's Luke Cramer keeps the ball from going out of bounds during the District 9 boys basketball playoff game against Otto-Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Karns City's Hobie Bartoe and Jacob Callihan celebrate their victory over Otto-Eldred during the District 9 boys basketball playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Karns City's Cole Johnston and coach Zach Kepple celebrate their victory over Otto-Eldred during the District 9 boys basketball playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Karns City's Cole Johnston scores during the District 9 boys basketball playoff game against Otto-Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Karns City's Taite Beighley drives the ball down the court during the District 9 boys playoff game against Otto-Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Karns City's Hobie Bartoe makes a layup during the District 9 boys playoff game against Otto-Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

The Karns City student section celebrate Karns City's victory over Otto Eldred during the district 9 boys playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Taite Beighley attempts to score during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Cole Johnston protects the ball during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Jacob Callihan makes a layup during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer scores during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Jacob Callihan scores during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Cole Johnston attempts to reach the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Hobie Bartoe drives toward the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer attempts to reach the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Taite Beighley steals the ball from Otto Eldred during the district 9 boys playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Hobie Bartoe drives the ball down the court during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Shane Peters battles for the ball with Otto Eldred's Shene Thomas during the district 9 boys playoff game at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer is blocked from reaching the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer looks to pass the ball during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer tries to reach the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Cole Johnston protects the ball during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Hobie Bartoe attempts to reach the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)

Karns City's Luke Cramer drives toward the net during the district 9 boys playoff game against Otto Eldred at Clarion University on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (2/27/2024)