KSAC-EAST BOYS' AND GIRLS' CHAMPIONS TO BE DECIDED THURSDAY NIGHT

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Clarion girls need win and Union loss

Union boys' and girls' control destinies

Karns City' boys' need win and Union loss

By Dustin Kifer

The KSAC Eastern Division will finally crown its champions Thursday night and determine its representatives in Saturday’s KSAC Championship games.

Four teams, two boys and two girls, remain alive in the division races with Union in control in both races.

On the boy’s side, Rocky Grove (22-1 overall, 17-1 KSAC-West) clinched the Western Division title with a 56-34 win over West Forest Saturday. The Orioles opponent will be either Union or Karns City .

Union held a two game lead over the Gremlins entering last week, but the Golden Knights (15-7, 14-4 KSAC-East) have dropped two of their last three conference games. Karns City (16-7, 14-4), on the other hand, has won four straight league contests, and is tied with Union atop the Eastern Division.

Union, however, holds the key to the title contest, as the Knights swept the season series with Karns City thus holding the tiebreaker for the division title. The Knights need only beat East Forest (0-18, 2-21) Thursday night to play for the KSAC title. Union would also make the KSAC title game with a Karns City loss at Clarion. Union toppled East Forest 80-57 Dec. 20.

Karns City, on the other hand, must beat homestanding Clarion (10-13, 8-10) and hope for a Union loss in order to win the Eastern Division. Karns City knocked off Clarion 55-39 Dec. 20.

On the girls’ side, KSAC-West champion Keystone (20-2, 17-1 KSAC-West) awaits its opponent either Union or Clarion.

Union (16-7, 13-5 KSAC-East) has control with a one-game lead over Clarion (14-9, 12-6). However, the Lady Cats hold a season sweep of the Damsels and would claim the division title in the event of a tie.

Again, it’s simple for Union . The Damsels travel to East Forest (12-10, 10-8) for a varsity only contest at 7 p.m. and, with a win, clinch a spot in the conference title tilt. A Clarion loss would also allow the Damsels to play for their fourth consecutive KSAC title. Union beat East Forest 40-36 Dec. 20.

Clarion needs a win and help to win the East, as the Lady Cats travel to Karns City (14-9, 11-7) to finish off the regular season. A Clarion win coupled with a Union loss would give head coach Roger Walter a shot at his first KSAC title and allow the Lady Cats to avenge an early January loss to the Lady Panthers. Clarion beat Karns City 59-36 Dec. 20.

NOTES – The KSAC Championship games will be played Saturday at Clarion High School with the boys game slated for 1 p.m. and the girls game to follow at 3 p.m. Last season, Union beat Keystone for the girls’ crown and Keystone knocked off Clarion for the boys’ title in the first-ever KSAC Title games.