The Lady Dragons took a 12-11 lead with 7:17 to play in the first half, but didn’t score again until an Emma Ruhlman putback with two minutes to go. That cut the deficit to 19-14, but McDowell didn’t allow Warren to get any closer through the remainder of the contest.

“They’re a very good team,” Warren coach Lisa LaVan said. “They’re big and athletic. I’m proud of our girls and the way they battled.”

The Dragons (1-2) were able to slow the Trojans (3-1) transition game through most of the first quarter. Ruhlman completed a 3-point play to give Warren an 8-7 lead, but Katelyn Testa and Sydney Keinath turned steals into transition baskets on consecutive possessions to put McDowell on top, 11-8, after the first quarter.

Warren got off to a quick start in the second as Ruhlman put in a layup and Riley Childress knocked down a pair of free throws for the 12-11 advantage. Testa put back a rebound on the other end to give the Trojans a 13-12 lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

Warren’s Emma Ruhlman (15) puts up a jump shot over McDowell defenders during the first half of their game at Warren Area High School, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Ruhlman led the Dragons with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals, but the Trojans came away with a 44-32 win.

Multiple times in the quarter, the Dragons appeared to have a lane to the basket, but Keinath stepped up and altered the shot or angle to keep Warren from closing the gap.

“Pull-ups are a part of the game we’re developing,” LaVan said. “They like to go right after people.”

McDowell led 25-16 at the half.

The Dragons continued to play solid defense in the third, but couldn’t get shots to fall despite some open looks on the offensive end. The Trojans took advantage enough to push the lead to 30-18 before Childress hit a jumper with just under three minutes to play in the frame. Two minutes later, Taylor Childress connected on her second 3-pointer of the game to cut the lead to 30-23. Rachel Helsley put in a layup late in the period to give McDowell a 32-23 lead going to the fourth.

Neither team was able to do much in the early part of the final frame. The Trojans pushed the lead to 38-25, but Gracie Ruhlman’s 3-pointer with three minutes to play cut the lead back to 10. Emma Ruhlman’s 3-point play made it 40-31 with 1:10 to go, but McDowell was able to hold on for the 44-32 victory.

“This is a process,” LaVan said. “We’re getting there.”

Kelly Miller led the Trojans with 13 points, while Helsley added 11. Keinath scored six of her eight points in the first half, but was held to just a single field goal in the second half thanks to tenacious defense by Teagan Paris.

“Teagan worked so hard against her,” LaVan said.

Emma Ruhlman paced the Dragons with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Riley Childress had nine points, while Taylor Childress added six points and Gracie Ruhlman finished with three points and seven rebounds.

“Taylor really stepped up and she’s capable of doing that every game,” LaVan said. “I’m really proud of Gracie’s rebounding.”

Warren continues its tough early-season schedule when the Dragons host Greenville next Thursday.

——

McDowell (44)

K. Miller 6-0-0-13, Helsley 2-7-8-11, Keinath 4-0-2-8, Testa 3-0-0-6, J. Miller 2-0-0-4, Hetz 0-1-3-1, Pisano 0-1-3-1, Total 17-9-16-44

Warren (32)

E. Ruhlman 5-4-4-14, R. Childress 2-5-6-9, T. Childress 2-0-1-6, G. Ruhlman 1-0-0-3, C. Beers 0-0-0-0, Paris 0-0-0-0, Ordiway 0-0-0-0, Total 10-9-11-32

By quarters

McDowell 11 14 7 12 – 44

Warren 8 8 7 9 – 32

3-point FGs: McDowell (1)-K. Miller. Warren (3)-T. Childress 2, G. Ruhlman.

——

JV: MCDOWELL 50, WARREN 15

McDowell outscored Warren 19-1 in the first quarter and rolled to a 50-15 win in the junior varsity contest.

Gebhart led a balanced Trojans attack with 13 points.

Carly Beers led the Dragons with five points, while Miken Beers added four in the loss.

——

McDowell (50)

Gebhart 5-3-4-13, Hower 3-1-2-7, Spooner 1-3-4-6, Ferber 3-0-1-6, Testa 2-0-0-4, Fuller 1-2-2-4, Boyd 1-0-0-2, Stravinsky 0-2-2-2, Leonetti 1-0-0-2, Pendelton 1-1-2-3, Grace 0-1-2-1, Total 18-13-19-50

Warren (15)

C. Beers 2-1-4-5, M. Beers 1-2-2-4, Gatto 1-1-2-3, Munksgard 1-1-2-3, Albaugh 0-0-2-0, Ordiway 0-0-0-0, G. Ruhlman 0-0-0-0, Alburger 0-0-0-0, Total 5-5-12-15

By quarters

McDowell 19 11 6 14 – 50

Warren 1 4 6 4 – 15

3-point FGs: McDowell (1)-Spooner. Warren-None.