Times Observer Photo by Jon Sitler Pictured, from left, are: Warren’s Ben Berdine, JT Blum and Payton Barnes surrounding a Harbor Creek shooter during Friday’s Region 5 game in Warren.

To say it’s been a tough start to the season has been an understatement. And here comes Harbor Creek. Not the team Warren’s boys basketball team was scheduled to start with, but COVID-19 had other plans for the season.

So, after a three-week stoppage, Warren opened with the defending Region 5-champion Huskies, the same team that beat the Dragons to end their 2019-20 season in the District 10 playoffs. Harbor Creek left Warren Area High School on Friday with a 46-26 win in the season-opener.

“I thought we were going to have to shoot very well tonight to be in a game with them,” said Warren coach Jeff Berdine.

The Dragons didn’t shoot well; in fact, under 25 percent for the night.

Warren trailed just 6-5 after both teams missed many to start the first quarter, but nine first-half Warren turnovers helped Harbor Creek to a 24-7 halftime lead.

Warren did have seven of its nine players getting their first-ever varsity action, and opening against a state qualifier to boot. Still, Berdine called the Huskies “a good opponent to see where we’re at … and to see where they’re at.”

With no Dragon in double figures, Ben Berdine led Warren with 8 points and seven rebounds. JT Blum had six rebounds and three assists.

Cody Smith had eight of his game-high 13 points in the third quarter. But it was the 18-2 second quarter that really put Warren away.

Kody Vega had 20 points in Warren’s 41-29 junior varsity win earlier Friday.

HARBOR CREEK (46)

Whitman 1 0 3, CaSmith 3 0 6, Howell 3 1 7, Keinholz 0 0 0, Rucco 3 0 7, Stenger 0 0 0, Ennis 2 0 6, CoSmith 6 1 13, Breese 0 0 0, Yale 2 0 4. Totals 20 2 46.

WARREN (26)

Ordiway 1 0 3, Borger 1 0 2, Berdine 3 2 8, Nyquist 0 2 2, Blum 1 0 2, Vega 0 0 0, Blair 1 1 4, Barnes 2 0 5, Darling 0 0 0. Totals 9 5 26.

3-point goals–Whitman, Rucco, Ennis 2, Ordiway, Blair, Barnes.

Harbor Creek 6 18 14 8 — 46

Warren 5 2 7 12 — 26

JV: Warren won 41-29.