Berdine got exactly what he had been looking for Friday when the Dragons dominated General McLane from start to finish in a critical, 66-54, Region 6 win.

“That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Berdine said. “We were defensively sound and mentally invested.”

On the heels of a 22-point performance at Titusville Wednesday, Griffin Suppa poured in a career-high 28 points against the Lancers (3-2 overall, 1-1 Region 6).

“It just carried over (from the last game),” Suppa said. “We needed a big region win.”

Caleb Ei scored a game-high 23 points as the Dragons rolled past Harbor Creek.

Warren (3-4, 1-1) got out to a quick start and built a 7-2 advantage through the first three minutes of the game. McLane came back to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first. Seth Myers went 1-2 from the line to give the Lancers their first lead of the game, 8-7, with 3:50 to play in the frame.

It was the only time the Lancers would have the advantage.

Suppa answered with a 3-pointer to put the Dragons back on top, 10-8. On McLane’s next possession, Aidan Morrison got a block and Warren got the ball to Suppa for a 3-point play. A defensive stop gave the Dragons the ball and Mitch Grosch nailed a triple to push the lead to 16-8. Warren ended the quarter on a 17-2 run and took a 24-10 lead into the second.

The Dragons kept the pressure on in the second, but the Lancers showed why they’re a perennial Region 6 power by getting hot from behind the arch late in the half. Myers and Eli Bruce connected on three 3-pointers, but Suppa, Devin McMeans and Caleb Ei answered in kind to prevent McLane from cutting into the deficit.

“We locked down Myers and (Logan) Donahue and forced them into tough shots,” Suppa said.

Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg Warren’s Mitch Grosch (12) puts up a 3-point shot over General McLane’s Ryan Harvey (10) and Billy Jukes (20) during the first half of their game at Warren Area High School, Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. Grosch connected on the shot, three of his 11 points, and the Dragons went on to pick up a 66-54 win over the Lancers.

Warren led 41-24 at the half.

“Griffin and Mitch and Devin did a good job on their two guards,” Berdine said. “They’re really a team that you have to limit their effectiveness and I give those three a lot of credit.”

Both teams got a little sloppy in the third quarter. The Dragons began turning the ball over regularly and McLane was able to draw fouls in transition. The Lancers, however, were unable to take advantage as they went just 5-11 from the free throw line in the period. The numbers changed, but Warren still held a sizable 53-35 advantage heading to the final eight minutes.

The Dragons passed well in the fourth and scored just enough to keep the Lancers from making any real push at the lead.

“This was a good game for us,” Berdine said. “With the way our region is, we have to win our home region games.”

Berdine added he’s been impressed with the way Suppa has taken control of the offense the last two games.

“I told him we needed more from him and he responded,” Berdine said. “I’m proud of him.”

Ei had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Grosch finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists, Jake Kupchella added six points, five rebounds and four assists and Morrison finished with seven rebounds and four assists to go along with his two points.

Myers led the Lancers with 22 points, Donahue chipped in 13 and Bruce had 11 in the loss.

The Dragons now head into the holiday break with some momentum and will have a chance to rest before traveling to Harbor Creek Jan. 4 for another key Region 6 matchup.

“We’ve been scuffling,” Berdine said. “We lost four games that we really had a chance to win. This leaves a better taste in our mouths for Christmas. We have some confidence and need to get ready for some big region games in January.”

Ryan Arnold had a game-high 21 points to lead Warren to a 48-38 junior varsity win. Thomas Bablak added eight, while Ben Salapek, Ryan Rafalski and Ben Berdine had five apiece and Payton Barnes had four in the win.

– – –

General McLane (54)

Myers 8-4-7-22, Donahue 6-1-2-13, E. Bruce 4-0-0-11, A. Bruce 2-2-3-6, Renick 0-1-2-1, Jones 0-1-4-1, Harvey 0-0-2-0, Kulka 0-0-0-0, Jeneta 0-0-0-0, Jukes 0-0-0-0, Kulyk 0-0-0-0, Team 20-9-20-54

Warren (66)

Suppa 10-5-7-28, Ei 4-4-9-13, Grosch 5-0-0-11, Kupchella 3-0-0-6, McMeans 1-0-0-3, Berdine 1-0-0-3, Morrison 1-0-0-2, Bablak 0-0-0-0, Funari 0-0-0-0, Team 25-9-16-66

By quarters

General McLane 10 14 11 19 – 54

Warren 24 17 12 13 – 66

3-point FGs: General McLane (5)-E. Bruce 3, Myers 2. Warren (7)-Suppa 3, Ei, McMeans, Berdine, Grosch.