Taylor Childress hit a big 3 to open the fourth, freshman Gracie Ruhlman scored six of her nine points in the final eight minutes and the duo of Riley Childress and Emma Ruhlman were terrific once again in a 48-38 victory.

“I thought we came out hot. We did really well,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “They played us that man-to-man and they struggled with us. They went into that 1-3-1 and we didn’t have any practice against it. It was actually a good thing, I think, to see it and work against it. It took us a little while, but we got there.”

The Lady Dragons (2-2 overall) did start out hot, scoring the first nine points of the game.

But Greenville rallied to take a 4-point lead at halftime, and that lead held serve until early in the fourth.

Warren's Riley Childress looks to drive against Greenville during Thursday's game. Childress had a game-high 19 points in the Lady Dragons' win.

Childress’ 3 to start the run came against the 1-3-1, going back to coach LaVan’s point about adjusting to it.

“I know she (Taylor Childress) was getting a little down on herself, but shooters shoot,” she said. “You’re going to miss, she just has to keep shooting.”

Her younger sister Riley followed with a 3 of her own and Gracie Ruhlman’s jumper with 3:52 to go gave Warren a 38-37 advantage, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“Gracie did some good things,” coach LaVan said. “She just has to let loose a little bit; she can be a little uptight. She did a lot of really good things. It helps having a couple older ones barking at you and telling you what you need to do.”

Teagan Paris had a layup to extend the lead to 43-38, and Riley Childress and Emma Ruhlman put it away from there at the free throw line.

“Once we got the lead, you’re not going to stop Emma and Riley from knocking down free throws,” LaVan said.

Greenville (4-2) came battling back early thanks to the strong play of Skylar Swartz, who scored a team-high 16 points.

Late in the third quarter, Josie Lewis and Amy Batt hit back-to-back 3’s to temporarily keep the Lady Dragons at bay.

“It (defense) got a little bit better,” noted LaVan, who was unhappy with her squad’s effort on that end in the second quarter. “They got a lead and they started stretching us out. We did okay. We had to put a little pressure on them. We mixed up our defenses a little bit, got them on their heels and got the lead.

“They’re a great team. They only had one loss, to Grove City. They’re getting better every game. We watched a lot of film on them and they just keep getting better.”

Emma Ruhlman had another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and also dished out five assists, while Riley Childress poured in a game-high 19 points to go along with her four steals.

Thursday’s game is part of a tough early-season stretch for the Lady Dragons, and it continues with a trip to Erie on Saturday to take on the Erie Royals.

“Mercyhurst Prep, McDowell, we’re going through kind of a gauntlet here,” noted LaVan. “It doesn’t get any easier on Saturday. Erie is big, athletic and tough. It’s going to be a tough one for sure.”

– – –

GREENVILLE (38)

Batt 3-0-0-7, Harpst 3-0-1-7, Swartz 7-2-4-16, Lewis 3-0-0-8, Rosario 0-0-0-0, Wentling 0-0-1-0, Cano 0-0-0-0, Serrano 0-0-0-0, Totals 12-2-5-38

WARREN (48)

T. Childress 1-0-0-3, R. Childress 6-5-8-19, E. Ruhlman 4-2-2-11, Paris 2-0-0-4, G. Ruhlman 3-3-6-9, C. Beers 0-0-0-0, Ordiway 0-0-0-0, Gatto 0-0-0-0, Munksgard 0-0-0-0, Totals 16-10-16-48

By Quarters

Greenville 4 17 10 7 – 38

Warren 11 6 10 21 – 48

Three-point FGs: Greenville (4) – Lewis 2, Batt, Harpst; Warren

– – –

JV

GREENVILLE (37)

Moller 3-1-3-7, Cano 4-6-10-14, Kelley 5-0-0-10, Lyons 0-1-2-1, Philson 1-3-4-5, Hammond 0-0-0-0, Bailey 0-0-0-0, Totals 13-11-19-37

WARREN (21)

M. Beers 0-0-0-0, C. Beers 2-2-5-6, Gatto 2-3-6-7, Ordiway 1-0-0-2, Munksgard 2-0-0-4, Albaugh 0-0-0-0, Alburger 1-0-0-2, Totals 8-5-11-21

By Quarters

Greenville 7 3 16 11 – 37

Warren 8 2 4 7 – 21

Three-point FGs: Greenville – None; Warren – None