Those four minutes were enough to lift the Lady Dragons to a 59-49 win in their Region 6 opener at Warren Area High School. Warren began the second half on a 15-2 run and held off a late Harbor Creek rally to improve to 3-0 on the year.

“I think they finally lit a fire under their butts and came out and got after it,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “They were playing very tentative — there was no aggressiveness, and we only had four fouls in the first half. Once they got after it and started playing fast and physical, playing the way we need to play, that really is what made the difference for us.”

Harbor Creek was able to take advantage of second and third chances under the basket and led early on, but a combined 15 points from Margo and Maddie Loutzenhiser helped Warren tie the game at 23-23 heading into the locker room.

The Lady Dragons didn’t waste any time after the break as Rachel Wilson, Alanna Hultberg and Autumn Hultberg scored on three consecutive possessions to force a Harbor Creek timeout. Warren continued to push the pace on offense and took a double-digit lead with Margo Loutzenhiser knocking down a three-pointer before the Lady Huskies were able to slow the momentum.

Warren’s Megan Wortman (23) ties up Harbor Creek’s Latisha Baker (30) Wednesday at WAHS.

Harbor Creek cut the deficit to seven at the end of the third quarter and came as close as four after a pair of Ali Benim free throws midway through the fourth, but Warren answered with back-to-back buckets from Wilson and Margo Loutzenhiser to regain some breathing room.

With the Lady Dragons in the bonus late in the game, Loutzenhiser went 4-of-4 from the foul line and Wilson added a pair of baskets to end any hopes of a Harbor Creek comeback.

Margo Loutzenhiser led all scorers with 22 points to go along with five assists and eight rebounds. Wilson finished with 15 points — 13 of which came in the decisive second half — as part of a double-double with 10 rebounds and three steals. Alanna Hultberg and Maddie Loutzenhiser chipped in six points each.

Benim led Harbor Creek with 12 points and Sarah Babay added 10.

Warren will return to action this Saturday in a non-region game at Meadville. The Lady Dragons have been challenged in all three of their wins this year, but so far have adapted to playing a more uptempo style with a smaller, quicker team.

Warren’s Autumn Hultberg (31) defends Harbor Creek guard Laurel Prokopchak (20) during Wednesday’s game at WAHS. The Lady Dragons improved to 3-0 with a 59-49 win.

“I like their toughness,”  LaVan said. “They’re mentally tough kids and that’s a hard thing to teach. Our defense needs to tighten up a little bit, but we’ll get there. They’re gamers. They love game day and that’s what I love about them.”

Warren won Wednesday’s JV game against Harbor Creek, 44-36. Taylor Childress led the Lady Dragons with 11 points while Gracie Wood and Sierra Matson added eight each.

HARBOR CREEK (49): Babay 4 1-2 10, Oldach 1 0-1 2, Kienholz 4 0-0 8, Benim 4 3-4 12, Prokopchak 2 3-4 7, Stenger 2 4-5 8, Baker 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 13-18 49.

WARREN (59): Childress 0 0-0 0, Wood 1 2-2 4, Al. Hultberg 3 0-0 6, Mad. Loutzenhiser 3 0-0 6, Wilson 6 3-4 15, Mar. Loutzenhiser 7 7-9 22, Wortman 1 0-0 2, Au. Hultberg 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 12-15 59.

Harbor Creek       11   12   12   14 — 49

Warren       10   13   19   17 — 59

3-pointers: Babay (H) 1, Benim (H) 1, Mar. Loutzenhiser (W) 1.

——

Junior Varisty

HARBOR CREEK (36): Buziewicz 0 0-2 0, Meyer 0 2-2 2, Soles 4 1-2 9, Barton 1 0-2 2, Williamson 3 0-0 6, McLaughlin 4 0-0 8, Przyoyiski 1 0-0 2, Woll 1 0-0 2, Cass 2 1-2 5. Totals 16 4-10 36.

WARREN (44): Childress 2 6-7 11, Lupole 1 3-4 6, Wood 4 0-0 8, Jewell 0 0-0 0, Burns 0 0-0 0, Gern 0 0-0 0, Navaroli 0 0-1 0, Nebinski 2 1-2 5, Matson 4 0-0 8, Wortman 0 0-2 0, Barrett 0 0-0 0, Gourley 0 0-0 0, Citro 2 0-2 4, Lucks 0 2-2 2. Totals 15 10-18 44.

Harbor Creek       6   10   8   12 — 36

Warren       15   15   12   2 — 44

3-pointers: Childress (W), Lupole (W).