KARNES MAKES SCC FEEL THE BURN IN BERNIE

ADVANCE -- Perhaps Scott County Central's basketball team could file a lawsuit.

Bernie's Jason Karnes didn't come with a warning label.

Karnes caught fire and burned the Braves for 36 points and eight 3-pointers and the Braves went stone cold in the fourth quarter as second-seeded Bernie set up a showdown with to-seed Advance with an 81-66 win in a Class 1A, District 2 semifinal game Tuesday night.

After the Mules (23-5) made just one of their 10 threes in the first half, they caught fire midway through the third quarter as Karnes hit four consecutive treys during a 14-6 run which but Bernie ahead 52-44 with 3:25 to go in the third.

"There were three, four or five possessions there where we lost people in transition," said Scott Central coach Steve Wells. "They hit threes and we could only answer with twos."

"Jason hit three or four in a row and once he did we could lay back a bit," said Bernie coach Morris Karnes.

As quickly as Bernie found its shooting touch, the Braves (17-10) lost theirs.

Third-seeded Scott Central trailed just 57-56 going into the fourth quarter, but hit just three of its 18 shots in the final quarter, including just two of 16 from 3-point range. For the game, Scott Central hit five of its 24 3-point attempts and shot 33 percent from the field on 22 of 67 shooting.

Bernie continued its hot hand in the fourth, making six of its first seven shots, including two threes by Karnes in three attempts. Bernie started the fourth quarter on a 16-3 run and it was basically over.

"We couldn't hit baskets," Wells said. "It's just one of those things where it gets contagious."

Jreece Johnson, the area's leading scorer, was abnormally cold and ended up with 22 points, well below his season average.

Both teams basically traded punches for the first three quarters. The teams were tied at 11 after the first quarter and Bernie was up 32-30 at halftime.

Scott Central had three players in double figures. Jreece Johnson led the way, followed by Todd Blissett with 18 and Chris Johnson with 15.

"I thought before the game if we could hold Jreece Johnson to 25 we'd have a good chance to win the game," said Morris Karnes.

Bernie's Derek Stone scored 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

"We had a lot of kids step up and play," said Morris Karnes.

Despite the game's up-tempo style, it was not a sloppy game. Bernie committed just five turnovers and Scott Central had just nine.

Bernie could've run away with the game, but made just 18 of its 30 foul shots.

The championship game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.