Warren Area High School sophomore guard Kelsey Stuart (right) pokes the ball away from an Elk County Catholic player during Tuesday’s scrimmage at Warren Area High School. The Lady Dragons open their season on Friday with their Tip-Off Tournament, hosing Oil City at 8 p.m.

The Warren Lady Dragons Tip-Off Tournament will mark the official start of game action in the 2018-19 basketball season.

The Lady Dragons welcome Oil City, Panama (NY) and Southwestern (NY) to Joseph A. Massa Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday for full JV and varsity action.

While the competition on the court will be fierce, the Lady Dragons have several festivities planned that promise to make this an even more eventful weekend.

On Friday, before Warren takes on Oil City in the 8 p.m. varsity contest, they will pay tribute to Jack White, who passed away in October at the age of 86.

White’s family has been a staple in Warren athletics for decades, where his son Jeff currently serves as the athletic director and John as an assistant basketball coach for the Lady Dragons. A great athlete in his day, he took great joy in watching his grandchildren suit up for the Dragons over the years, including current WAHS student-athletes Aidan Morrison and Ben White.

He could be spotted during basketball season sitting in his famous corner chair, often holding court and chatting with fellow spectators, many of whom would stop by to say hello.

After they pay tribute to Warren’s No. 1 fan on Friday, the Warren girls have even more planned on Saturday.

Before the championship game, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., they will honor the PIAA runner-up Warren Area High School volleyball team.

Apart from finishing as state runner-up, the volleyball team rolled to the second unbeaten regular season in program history, as well as the first District 10 title in program history. They followed that up with three-straight wins in the state playoffs to get to the finals, all over WPIAL opponents, including 2017 state champ Knoch in the semifinals.

It’s part of a busy couple of days for the volleyball team, as they will also serve as Grand Marshal for the annual Warren Christmas Parade on Friday.

The Lady Dragons basketball team returns a ton of talent from last season’s squad, which finished just one win shy of qualifying for the state playoffs, led by senior 1,000-point scorer Margo Loutzenhiser, who has signed on to play collegiatley for Gannon.

The game schedule follows.

– – –

Friday

JV

3:30 – Oil City vs. Warren

5 – Panama vs. Southwestern

Varsity

6:30 – Panama vs. Southwestern

8 – Warren vs. Oil City

Saturday

JV

3 – Consolation Game

4:30 – Championship Game

Varsity

6 – Consolation Game

7:30 – Championship Game