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Warren girls have sights set on postseason

Photo courtesy of Jeff Parkin Warren’s Riley Childress goes up for two points during a game against Oil City.

Warren’s girls basketball team had a nice little run in last year’s playoffs.

The Dragons always want more.

Warren finished third in the district last year and lost in the first round of the state tournament.

Even with a COVID delay, this year’s team — with almost everyone back — has gone 19-3 and won its last eight games. It’s a season in which head coach Lisa LaVan won her 200th career game at Warren, and her oldest daughter (of three on the team), Emma Ruhlman, surpassed 1,000 career points as a junior. Another junior, Riley Childress, isn’t far behind.

The Dragons … still … want more.

Warren is the top seed this season in the District 10 5A playoffs, hosting 8-seeded Franklin at 2 p.m. today in the quarterfinals.

“They are much improved from the beginning of the season,” said LaVan of Franklin (8-13). “They have a solid post that is 6-foot-1 (Camdon Bashor) that averages 12 points per game.”

Despite the difference in season records, the Dragons aren’t looking past anyone.

“Our girls are locked in and ready for playoffs,” said LaVan. “These girls and their families sacrificed so much for each other to stay safe and healthy this season. I am proud of the girls for all their hard work this year. We took care of business during a difficult season and went 19-3. Regardless of what others think, they earned the number-one seed by tying for second with McDowell in the best region in D10 girls basketball. We knew our region would be a tough schedule with a great team like Villa in it who has a great chance to win another state title this year and two 6A teams (McDowell and Erie).”

All that adversity is because this is exactly where Warren wants to be.

See WARREN / Page B2

Emma Ruhlman averages 15.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, Childress 14.3 points and 4.5 assists, and senior Kelsey Stuart, senior Teagan Paris, and sophomore Gracie Ruhlman another 15 points between them.

Warren is 9-1 at home this season.

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