KNOX, Pa. (D9Sports) — Karns City knew that Mercyhurst Prep liked to shoot the 3-ball.
(Photo: Freshman Nathan Waltman had 15 points for Karns City. Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)
But there was nothing that could prepare the District 9 champion Gremlins for the barrage the Lakers, the third-place team out of District 10, rained down on them Saturday night at Keystone High School in the PIAA Class 3A first round.
Mercyhurst Prep nailed 16 3-pointers, led by five each from Alex Miklinski and Joe Dombkowski, to end Karns City’s season with a 78-47 decision.
“We knew they were a good-shooting team,” Karns City head coach Chris Bellis said. “We had hoped to defend them better and make them more uncomfortable. But, we weren’t able to do that. Mercyhurst was ready to play and shot the ball well.”
Dombkowski scored a game-high 17 points for the Lakers with Miklinski adding 15.
Mercyhurst Prep (15-11) wasted little time putting the game away racing out to a 26-8 lead after a quarter and a 42-16 lead at halftime.
Griffin Herron chipped in 12 points for the Lakers.
Freshman Nathan Waltman paced Karns City (17-8) with 15 points, fellow freshman Chase Beighley had 11 and senior Jacob Friel 10.
“I told our kids that we can’t let tonight’s game overshadow what we have accomplished this season,” Bellis said. “No one expected us to win the KSAC South and the District 9 championship. We were successful because we believed in ourselves and our seniors provided great leaders. Our seniors were great teammates, and they will be missed.”
MERCYHURST PREP 78, KARNS CITY 47
Score by Quarters
Mercyhurst Prep 26 16 24 12 — 78
Karns City 8 8 17 14 — 47
MERCYHURST PREP — 78
Trevor Luce 0 0-0 0, Ryan Patterson 2 0-0 5, Owen Pruchnicki 0 0-0 0, Mike Krafty 0 0-0 0, Ryan Krafty 2 0-2 5, Logan Dimperio 0 0-0 0, Josh Copfer 2 0-0 4, Anthony Grant-Cook 1 0-0 2, Matt Bengel 2 0-0 5, Zack Helsley 1 2-2 5, Jacob Brooks 2 0-0 4, Nick Byerly 2 0-0 4, Alex Miklinski 5 0-0 15, Griffin Herron 5 0-0 12, Joe Dombkowski 6 0-0 17. Totals 30 2-4 78.
KARNS CITY — 47
Anthony Kamenski 0 0-0 0, Logan Pistorius 1 1-2 4, Eric Pfeifer 0 0-0 0, Josh Wimer 0 0-0 0, Nathan Waltman 6 3-5 15, Jacob Friel 5 0-0 10, Nolan Riley 3 0-0 6, Chase Beighley 3 4-9 11, Austin Fahlor 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 9-18 47.
Three-pointers: Mercyhurst Prep 16 (Miklinski 5, Dombkowski 5, Herron 2, Patterson, Ryan Krafty, Bengel, Helsley). Karns City 2 (Pistorius, Beighley).
