Warren’s Alyssa Farr tries to drive between Franklin’s Gabby LaJeunesse (3) and Katie Boal (4) in the Dragons’ 47-17 Region 5 win on Thursday at Warren Area High School. Photo courtesy of Mark Evans

Warren’s girls basketball team took care of then second-place Conneaut on Monday and new second-place Franklin, 47-17, on Thursday at Warren Area High School.

“Things are starting to click more and more,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan of her first-place Dragons (12-6 overall and 6-0 in Region 5). “This group loves each other and really gets after it together. Not an ounce of selfishness on this team.”

That is evidenced by junior point guard Sammie Ruhlman’s 10 assists on Thursday.

“She was distributing it well tonight,” said LaVan.

Ruhlman and Alana Stuart had 4 points each and Halle Kuzminski, Alyssa Farr and Peyton Wotorson 3 points apiece in Warren’s 17-7 opening quarter.

The Dragons led 30-10 by halftime over Franklin (10-8 overall, 4-2 in the region with both losses to Warren).

“The defense has really come along,” said LaVan, whose Dragons held the Knights to single digits every quarter. “Defense definitely takes some skill, but it also takes a lot of heart. You have to really push yourself on defense to play it well. These girls would go through a brick wall for each other and that is what makes our defense very good. … Great team rebounding. Halle (Kuzminski) led us with seven.”

Overall, eight Dragons scored, including Stuart finishing with 11, Sammie Ruhlman 9, Farr and Wotorson 7 apiece, and Kuzminski 6.

“It’s a young group starting to put it together,” said LaVan.

In a 51-27 Warren junior varsity win, Emily Davidson (13), Emma Roell (12), and Meea Irwin (10) all hit double digits in points.

FRANKLIN (17)

Adams 1 0 3, LaJeunesse 0 0 0, Boal 1 0 2, JaBlum 1 1 3, JeBlum 2 3 7, Curry 0 0 0, Hicks 0 2 2. Totals 5 6 17.

WARRRN (47)

SRuhlman 3 2 9, Kophazy 0 0 0, Kuzminski 2 2 6, Farr 2 1 7, Davidson 1 0 2, Roell 0 0 0, Stuart 5 0 11, Wotorson 3 1 7, Irwin 1 0 2, Barney 0 0 0, GRuhlman 1 0 3, Foster 0 0 0, Rarey 0 0 0. Totals 18 6 47.

3-pointers — Adams, SRuhlman, Farr 2, Stuart, GRuhlman.

Franklin 7 3 4 3 — 17

Warren 17 13 12 5 — 47