That number would likely be higher if she was grading only the defensive effort in the final three quarters, because the Dragons’ were in the zone.

Literally.

After yielding 19 points in the first quarter, Warren’s stout zone defense limited the Buffalo, New York school to just three points in the second quarter and only 22 in the second half en route to a 55-44 victory at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Jamestown Community College.

“We try to mix (our defenses) up a lot and try and go back and forth,” LaVan said, “but it was working too well to go back and forth, so we stuck with it tonight and rode it out.”

Warren’s Alana Stuart (13) puts a shut up while being defended by Sacred Heart’s Morgan Giancaterino (11). Times Observer Photo by Scott Kindberg

The win raised the Dragons’ record to 5-0 heading into their trip to Florida this week where they’ll meet Seffner Christian on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.

“We’ve got to hunker down on some things,” LaVan said.

Continued strong play from Riley Childress will help.

The senior point guard scored 20 points, including 8 from the foul line in the final 2¢ minutes, to keep the Sharks (3-4) at bay. Freshman Alana Stuart scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half and senior Emma Ruhlman added 10, 8 which came after the break.

“(Childress) is a great little point guard,” LaVan said. “When the time comes that she needs to score, she steps up and scores. She’s a great defender, too. … She does a great job of running the show.”

Stuart gave LaVan great minutes as well.

“Teams are going to zero in on Riley and Emma as much as they can,” LaVan said. “It’s nice to see others step up and do some of that scoring and help us out. … (Stuart’s) still learning the ropes, but she’s doing a really good job of it.”

Sacred Heart was in control early, building a 16-7 lead with 90 seconds to go in the first quarter, but Stuart scored Warren’s final three field goals of the period to cut the Sharks’ lead to 19-13 and then the first two buckets of the second quarter to narrow the deficit to 19-17.

After that, the Dragons’ defense took hold, Childress drilled a pair of 3-pointers and then made a steal that resulted in a layup, pushing their lead to 25-22 by halftime.

Warren never trailed in the second half.

Now it’s on to the Sunshine State today in anticipation of Wednesday’s game against Sephern Christian, the No. 4 Class 3A school in Florida.

“It’s going to be tough,” LaVan said. “This (game) was a good prep for it. We’ll see what we can do down there.”

NOTES: Meghan Trapper led Sacred Heart with 19 points and senior Morgan Giancaterino added 13.

WARREN (55)

SRuhlman 1 0 2, Kuzminski 0 0 0, Farr 1 0 2, Winkle 0 2 2, Childress 4 10 20, Stuart 6 0 12, ERuhlman 3 4 10, GRuhlman 2 3 7, Totals 17 17 55.

SACRED HEART ACAEMY (44)

Giancaterino 5 3 13, Personius 0 2 2, Huss 1 1 3, Trapper 6 4 19, MCaterina 2 1 5, GCaterina 0 2 2, Totals 14 13 44.

3-point goals — Childress 2, Trapper 3.

Warren 13 12 16 14 — 55

Sacred Heart Academy 19 3 11 11 — 44