She just didn’t play like one Saturday night.

The guard’s performance during a 3¢-minute stretch of the fourth quarter provided the Dragons a small cushion en route to a 52-44 victory over Jamestown in the consolation game.

“She’s been lacking confidence lately,” Warren coach Lisa LaVan said. “I told her during a (fourth-quarter) timeout, ‘This is your game, this is what you love is playing at this pace. Just have fun.'”

All the Dragons seemed to do just that.

Times Observer Photo by Scott Kindberg The Dragons’ Meea Irwin puts up a shot.

Peyton Wotorson, who was named to the all-tournament team, led a balanced attack with 12 points, Alana Stuart had 11 and Irwin finished with 10, including 8 in the final period.

Alyson Canfield paced Jamestown with a game-high 18 points and Kylie O’Brien chipped in with 12.

“They don’t have role players,” Red Raiders coach Ken Ricker said of Warren. “Everyone makes plays, confident plays. We’re just not at that point yet. … It’s going to take a while. For this team in particular, the effort (is there), but until we get all the details and the little things we’re going to struggle.”

The game was close throughout, however. Warren led by four points after the first quarter and by five at halftime, but behind 8 points from Canfield and a trey by Marley Drake in the final seconds of the third quarter, Jamestown tied the game 35-all heading into the final eight minutes.

That’s when Irwin made her presence felt.

Times Observer photo by Scott Kindberg Warren’s Meea Irwin, right, defends Jamestown’s Alyson Canfield during the consolation game of the Southwestern Tournament on Saturday.

With the Dragons leading 37-35, she turned in a personal highlight-reel effort that included three field goals, an assist and a blocked shot. Thanks to her inspired play, Warren led 47-41 with just under three minutes remaining. The Red Raiders never got closer than three points the rest of the way.

“(LaVan) is the best coach I know in girls basketball,” Ricker said. ” … She puts in more time than anyone. … They’re just a very committed program. She’s a great coach and you know they’re gong to play defense and rebound. If they make shots, you’re in real trouble.”

Fittingly, Irwin connected on a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left to put the game away for good.

“(Jamestown) is scrappy, they’re tough and they make you play at a very, very fast pace,” LaVan said. “Knowing Ricker through the years, that’s his style and he’s good at it. We were just able to wear them down a little bit and we go a little deeper. I think that helped us a little bit.”

The Dragons will be back in action today when they play Cathedral Prep.

“It never ends,” LaVan said. “We loaded up December on purpose. It was nice to sneak out a win (Saturday), because it doesn’t get any easier for us.”

NOTES: Sacred Heart Academy of Buffalo, N.Y. defeated Southwestern in the championship game 57-48. … The Sharks’ Meghan Trapper, the tournament Most Valuable Player, was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Mariah Huss; Reece Beaver and Kira Ricker of Southwestern; Wotorson; and Kylie O’Brien of Jamestown.

WARREN (52)

SRuhlman 1 2 4, Kuzminski 0 2 2, Farr 3 2 8, Stuart 4 2 11, Wotorson 5 1 12, Irwin 4 2 10, GRuhlman 2 1 5, Foster 0 0 0. Totals 19 12 52.

JAMESTOWN (44)

Brandow 0 0 0, Freeney 1 1 3, Drake 2 2 8, Glover 0 0 0, Canfield 6 3 18, Engquist 1 1 3, O’Brien 5 2 12. Totals 15 9 44.

3-point goals–Stuart, Wotorson, Drake 2, Canfield 3.

Warren 16 10 9 17 — 52

Jamestown 12 9 14 9 — 44