“We created tempo with our press, and got a lot of easy buckets,” said Warren coach Jeff Berdine, whose Dragons are 12-7 overall and 5-3 in the region. “We’ve gotten better and better at it all year, and even with their two guards and the kids they have, I was comfortable even with my second group playing.”

Junior point guard Tommy Nyquist and senior Owen Becker scored 10 points each in a 29-10 first quarter. Becker was joined in the starting lineup by seniors Jack Darling, Anthony Errett and Parks Ordiway on senior night at WAHS.

“A night like this is a really special experience, especially with all the support we had from the community,” said Ordiway, who returned after missing three games. “All the people that came to support us really made it that much better. Every year, it feels like the season gets shorter and shorter and being sidelined for two weeks with a concussion didn’t make it much easier. Looking back on the past four years, it seems like it went by in a flash.”

Friday was a perfect example. By the time Ordiway hit two third-quarter 3-pointers, the running clock was in effect.

Warren senior Parks Ordiway dribbles by Titusville’s Konnor Schumaker on Friday in the Dragons’ 84-48 win at Warren Area High School. Photo courtesy of Mark Evans

“What I really wanted to see was at halftime of the Conneaut game (on Tuesday), we really didn’t come out with the same type of energy and got outscored 10-0 to start the third,” said coach Berdine. “Didn’t happen today; we outscored them 22-12 in the third, which is what you need to do when you’ve got your foot on somebody. You always say that first three minutes, you’ve established what you want in the first half, now you’ve got to go out and reestablish it, don’t let them get momentum, don’t let them get back in the game.”

Brady Berdine scored 11 points in a 25-9 second quarter that built a 35-point halftime lead. Ordiway’s 8 points in the third stretched that lead to 45 points.

Warren had five players in double figures scoring, including Becker with 20, Braylon Barnes 15, Nyquist 14, Brady Berdine 13, and Ordiway 11. In all, nine Dragons got on the scoreboard.

“The four seniors we have (Becker, Darling, Errett, and Ordiway), they’ve been through a lot,” said coach Berdine. “They’ve been through the COVID stuff, and they’ve come out on the other side of it. They’re great kids, they’re great competitors. I’ve enjoyed this class as much as any of the other classes I’ve ever had. They’re good student-athletes, but they’re even better kids. They’re good role models.”

The four took the floor together again in the second half only to leave together to an ovation.

“Being able to experience these four years with all my good friends, family, and coaches, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” said Ordiway.

Manny Perez led Titusville (10-10 overall, 2-6 in Region 6) with 26 points — 17 in the second half.

Earlier on Friday, Chase Sitler scored 20 points through three quarters in the Warren junior varsity team’s 58-39 win. Carson Chase finished with 10 points, Johnny Corbett 7, and Lucas Thrift and Collin Zdarko 5 apiece for Warren.

TITUSVILLE (48)

Perez 9 4 26, Fratus 0 0 0, Schumaker 1 0 2, Neely 3 1 10, Colon 4 0 8, Thomas 0 0 0, Wheeling 0 2 2. Totals 17 7 48.

WARREN (84)

Ordiway 4 0 11, Sitler 0 0 0, Berdine 6 0 13, Darling 0 0 0, Nyquist 4 4 14, Errett 1 3 5, Dippold 1 0 2, Becker 9 1 20, Barnes 7 0 15, Chase 0 0 0, Corbett 1 0 2, Hoffman 0 2 2, Johnson 0 0 0, Corey 0 0 0. Totals 33 10 84.

3-pointers: Perez 4, Neely 3, Ordiway 3, Berdine, Nyquist 2, Becker, Barnes.

Titusville 10 9 12 17 — 48

Warren 29 25 22 8 — 84