“We got up, we got a lead, and I think we got a little too confident, and I think we started running out of legs,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “We’re playing at a faster pace and a faster tempo, and we’re not in shape yet. The pace we want to play and the style we want to play, we’re not there. You’re not battling as hard for rebounds. You’re not moving your feet on defense. We just had some miscues and hats off to Maplewood; they grind, they’re tough and they’re just gritty kids.”

Warren built a 16-point lead in the second half, but the Dragons were outscored 13-10 in the third and led by 11 after three. Maplewood cut the lead to five late in the second half, but time ran out.

“Good teams find a way to win,” said LaVan. “Again, and I’ll keep saying it, we’re still young. We still have to get into the middle of the season when our freshmen kind of fold in, and my two sophomores. I thought Sammie (Ruhlman) stepped up and played a phenomenal game tonight.”

Sammie Ruhlman, Emma Ruhlman and Riley Childress were named to the all-tournament team. Emma Ruhlman was offensive MVP and Childress defensive MVP.

Times Observer Photo by Jon Sitler Warren senior Emma Ruhlman, left, and Maplewood junior Sadie Thomas fight for a loose ball in the Dragons’ season-opening home tournament Saturday. Both players were named to the all-tourney team after Ruhlman’s Dragons defeated the Tigers 48-43 in the championship game.

Emma Ruhlman scored seven of her 13 points in an 18-9 first quarter. She and Lindsay Madigan hit 3-pointers in the quarter, but Warren would connect on only one more the rest of the night. The Dragons made 13 3-pointers on Friday.

Alana Stuart’s layup off an assist from Emma Ruhlman was Warren’s only fourth-quarter field goal, but came at the right time.

“Alana gave us great minutes off the bench,” said LaVan. “She is really coming along as a freshman.”

Emma Ruhlman finished with 11 rebounds and Gracie Ruhlman 6. Childress had nine assists.

“Good to be pushed a little bit,” said LaVan. “We need to be able to get nervous. I know the seniors weren’t happy with the effort overall, but they’re hungry.”

MAPLEWOOD (43)

Moorhead 1 0-2 2, Thomas 8 5-6 22, MO’Hara 0 0-0 0, Slagle 1 2-4 4, IEimer 1 2-2 4, MEimer 0 0-0 0, Beuchat 0 0-0 0, Varndell 4 0-0 11. Totals 15 9-14 43.

WARREN (48)

SRuhlman 3 0-0 6, Kuzminski 2 0-0 4, Farr 0 0-0 0, Childress 6 0-1 13, Stuart 2 1-2 5, Madigan 1 0-0 3, ERuhlman 4 4-5 13, GRuhlman 2 0-4 4. Totals 20 5-12 48.

3-point goals–Thomas, Varndell 3, Childress, Madigan, ERuhlman.

Maplewood 9 11 13 10 — 43

Warren 18 16 10 4 — 48