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Lady Dragons edge Panama in thrilling tourney final

Warren teammates and sisters Taylor (left) and Riley Childress are all smiles in the closing moments of the Lady Dragons’ 66-61 win over Panama (NY) in their tournament championship game on Saturday.

It might only be December, but there was certainly a playoff feel to Saturday’s 6th annual Warren Lady Dragons Tip-Off Tournament title game.

When all was said and done, it was host Lady Dragons who were able to pull out a 66-61 win over Panama (NY).

It was a great early season test for Warren against a Panama squad that is coming off a Class D state runner-up finish in New York.

“On my drive in (Saturday), I wasn’t sure we were ready for it (an opponent as good as Panama),” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “But, per usual, and I think they’re going to do this to me all season, they proved me wrong. They’re gamers. They love to play the game and you can see it in the way they play.”

The Lady Dragons never trailed again after an old-school 3-point play by senior Margo Loutzenhiser (the tournament’s Offensive MVP) made it 33-31 late in the third quarter, stretching the lead to as much as 9 on two occasions.

Warren freshman Emma Ruhlman reacts as the final seconds tick off the Lady Dragons’ 66-61 win over Panama (NY) in their tournament title game on Saturday.(

This coming on the heels of a back-and-forth first half that was bookended by a pair of 3’s from the Childress sisters – Riley and Taylor.

Freshman Emma Ruhlman (the tournament’s Defensive MVP) knocked down a pair of first-quarter 3’s as Warren (2-0) jumped out to an 18-12 lead. But midway through the second quarter, both Ruhlman and Loutzenhiser picked up their third fouls and were forced to sit out the rest of the half.

Panama took advantage, taking a 5-point lead before Taylor Childress, a junior, knocked down a big 3 just before the first-half buzzer to get Warren back within 2, 29-27.

“That was clutch,” LaVan said. “We’ve been on her a lot about trusting her 3-point shot and shooting it. She did great.”

A 10-2 Warren run in the third quarter, keyed by a 3 by the freshman Riley Childress, a jumper by senior Sierra Matson and a strong take to the rim by Loutzenhiser gave Warren it’s biggest lead of the game at 9, prompting a Panama timeout.

Warren’s Taylor Childress skies high to retrieve a loose ball during Saturday’s game.

“The freshman stepped up to the plate and played really well and shined in the big moments,” Loutzenhiser said.

The Panama duo of Natalie Angeletti and Kylie Scharns, who were both named to the All-Tournament team, responded in a big way.

They spearheaded a 9-2 run by the visitors to end the quarter, capped by a 3 from Scharns at the buzzer to get them back within 1, 49-48.

Schnars led Panama with 18 points and Angeletti had 14.

Ruhlman drew the defensive assignment on Angeletti, a 1,000-point scorer, and more than held her own.

Riley Childress scored 10 points and had 4 steals as Warren rallied past Greenville on Thursday.

“Emma had a really tough matchup on Natalie and did an amazing job,” coach LaVan said.

In the fourth quarter, it was the youngsters who once again gave the Lady Dragons some breathing room, as sophomore Kelsey Stuart, as well as Riley Childress and Ruhlman combined for the first eight Warren points of the quarter, capped by a 3 from Stuart off a feed from Loutzenhiser that extended the lead to 57-50 with 4:12 to play.

“There’s no challenge big enough for them,” LaVan said. “We’re a young as a team. They haven’t played together a ton. I think that’s what I take away from this is don’t underestimate them. They’re tough.”

She also referenced a play in the fourth quarter where her freshman point guard Childress led a fastbreak, but, rather than trying to force something that might not have been there, pulled the ball back out and ran an offensive set, which eventually led to a bucket.

“To have the judgment to pull it out and set something up … she’s special for sure,” LaVan said.

The state runner-up Warren volleyball team was honored before the championship game.

Alanna Hultberg, who was also on the All-Tournament team, went to the free throw line late to ice the game, and did just that, giving Warren it

s tournament title.

“She had the confidence and she knew she would knock them down,” Loutzenhiser said.

Added Hultberg: “It’s nice to be out there and be able to help lead.”

All of this in front of a gym that was filled from ground floor to the balcony and included the Warren volleyball team, which was honored prior to the game.

“The volleyball team was amazing,” LaVan said. “That just shows you how cool it is to have our programs working together. How amazing Warren athletics is when we come together and do it together. People weren’t sure if we could play in front of a big crowd, but I think we put that to bed tonight. They loved it.”

The Flannel Panel cheers on the Dragons.

The Warren JV team also claimed a tournament title of their own in a 16-13 defensive slugfest over Panama.

Halee Mineweaser had five points and Teagan Paris and Taylor Kraft 3 each.

The Lady Dragons return to action Thursday, traveling to McDowell for a big early season road contest.

– – –

PANAMA (61)

Johnson 3-0-0-7, Lisciandro 3-6-7-12, Yuchnitz 0-2-2-2, Angeletti 7-0-0-14, Schnars 7-3-7-18, Mistretta 0-1-2-1, Brink 1-3-4-5, Schauman 0-0-0-0, Watson 0-0-0-0, Odell 0-0-0-0, Marsh 1-0-2-2, Bowen 0-0-0-0, Totals 22-15-22-61

WARREN (66)

Hultberg 1-4-5-6, R. Childress 4-4-9-14, Stuart 3-2-5-9, Ruhlman 4-2-3-13, Loutzenhiser 4-6-7-14, Matson 1-0-0-2, T. Childress 3-0-0-8, Paris 0-0-0-0, Totals 20-18-29-66

By Quarters

Panama 12 17 19 13 – 61

Warren 18 9 22 17 – 66

Three-points FGs: Panama (2) – Johnson, Schnars; Warren (8) – Ruhlman 3, T. Childress 2, R. Childress 2, Stuart

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