Tom Bablak scored 21 points for Warren on Friday at Fort LeBoeuf.

WATERFORD, Pa. – A hot-shooting Fort LeBoeuf team put a dent in the Warren Dragons potential playoff seed on Friday.

Joe Riley exploded for a season-high 27 points to lead the host Bison to 69-60 win on their home floor.

The Dragons had a chance to move into a second-place tie in Region 6 with Corry (Harbor Creek clinched at least a share of the region title on Friday), with those two teams scheduled to meet on Tuesday. Instead, they are now in a third-place tie with Titusville with each team having one region game to go.

The Dragons trailed 35-29 at halftime, but a quick start to the second half allowed the Bison (7-13 overall, 2-9 Region 6) to take a double-digit lead that they maintained well into the fourth quarter.

“They used a quick start to the third to pull away,” said Warren coach Jeff Berdine. “We didn’t do a solid job on the ball tonight and our defensive rotations were poor at best. We gave a lot of effort but the execution was not where it needs to be on the road in our region.”

Tom Bablak tried to shoot the Dragons (12-8, 6-5) back into it late, drilling three fourth-quarter triples as the Dragons trimmed the margin to six, but were unable to get any closer.

“We were able to make a run, but couldn’t get stops when we needed them,” Berdine said.

Bablak finished with a team-high 21 points, while Payton Barnes had 12 (eight in the first half), Ben Berdine 10 and Mitch Grosch nine.

Brandon Drayer was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 19 for the Bison.

The Dragons will get right back at it today, hosting Mercer on Senior Day today. JV starts at 2 p.m. with varsity to follow as the Dragons will honor their seven seniors.

“We have a quick turnaround,” Berdine said.

The Dragons won the JV game, 44-37. Bryce Blair finished with 11 points and Justice Greene 10 to lead the winners.

– – –

WARREN (60)

Rafalski 0-0-0-0, Berdine 4-2-2-10, Bablak 9-0-2-21, Grosch 3-2-2-9, Barnes 4-2-4-12, Arnold 0-0-0-0, Gustafson 0-4-5-4, Swanson 1-2-2-4, Totals 21-12-17-60

FORT LEBOEUF (69)

Riley 11-3-9-27, Endres 3-0-0-7, Dooley 1-0-0-3, Drayer 6-5-6-19, Turi 5-3-4-13, Richmond 0-0-0-0, Totals 25-11-19-69

By Quarters

Warren 13 16 8 23 – 60

Fort LeBoeuf 17 18 14 20 – 69

Three-point FGs: Warren (6) – Bablak 3, Banres 2, Grosch; Fort LeBoeuf (8) – Riley 2, Drayer 2, Turi 2, Endres, Dooley

– – –

JV

WARREN (44)

Ordiway 1-0-0-2, Borger 1-1-1-3, White 0-0-0-0, Rich 1-0-0-3, Blum 1-6-6-8, McMeans 0-0-0-0, Vega 2-0-0-5, Arford 1-0-0-2, Blair 3-4-6-11, Greene 5-0-0-10, Totals 15-11-13-44

FORT LEBOEUF (37)

Schofield 2-0-0-6, Dine 1-0-0-3, Repine 0-0-0-0, Gentile 5-4-10-15, Richmond 5-3-5-13, Fuller 0-0-0-0, Totals 13-7-15-37

By Quarters

Warren 8 17 7 12 – 44

Fort Lebouef 9 9 9 10 – 37

Three-point FGs: Warren (3) – Rich, Vega, Blair; Fort LeBoeuf (4) – Schofield 2, Dine, Gentile