If you believe coach Lisa LaVan’s message, and her players certainly do, Warren’s girls basketball team will be back and better than ever next season.

On Saturday, Blackhawk slowly pulled away from Warren, winning 51-32 in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs at Blackhawk High School.

“We did not take care of the ball in the half court in the second (half),” said LaVan.

Warren junior point guard Sammie Ruhlman connected on two 3-pointers and had 8 points in a 15-13 Blackhawk first quarter.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren’s Sammie Ruhlman is defended by Blackhawk’s Piper Romigh (30) and Haley Romigh (25).

Sophomore teammate Alana Stuart scored 6 of Warren’s 7 second-quarter points, but Blackhawk — WPIAL’s second seed — led by six points at halftime.

Blackhawk (22-4) — state runner-up a season ago — made 11 of 15 free throws in the second half, and held the Dragons to four second-half field goals.

Warren was outscored 11-4 in the third quarter and 14-8 in the fourth.

Blackhawk moves on to play Knoch, a 53-44 winner over Punxsutawney, in the second round of 16 on Wednesday.

Sammie Ruhlman and Stuart led the Dragons (18-8) with 10 points each and Warren’s only senior, Gracie Ruhlman, added 6 points.

Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Warren senior Gracie Ruhlman goes up for a shot over Blackhawk’s Piper Romigh (30) and Alena Fusetti (11).

“‘GG’ (Gracie Ruhlman) left her mark on this program,” said LaVan, her coach and mom. “Two D10 titles and a region title are great, but it is about who she is — the most selfless player ever and an amazing teammate. She will be missed.”

This was Warren’s fifth straight trip to states after a District 10 4A third-place finish. The Dragons entered this season with three D10 titles in four years and had graduated two 1,000-point scorers and eventual college basketball players in Emma Ruhlman and Riley Childress.

“What an amazing opportunity and a great way to build some momentum going into next season,” said LaVan, whose Dragons won nine straight games to end the regular season.

“This group gained some valuable experience this season and they are hungry for next season already,” added LaVan. “They are a hard-working, amazing group of young ladies.”

WARREN (32)

SRuhlman 3 2-4 10, Kuzminski 1 1-1 3, Farr 0 1-2 1, Davidson 0 0-0 0, Roell 0 0-0 0, Stuart 3 3-4 10, Wotorson 0 0-0 0, Irwin 1 0-0 2, Solberg 0 0-0 0, Barney 0 0-0 0, GRuhlman 2 2-3 6, Rarey 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 9-14 32.

BLACKHAWK (51)

Tesch 0 0-0 0, Potts 3 3-4 10, Troup 0 0-0 0, Saliba 0 0-0 0, Fusetti 5 2-3 14, Davis 4 0-0 8, Kinger 1 0-0 3, Rabik 0 0-0 0, Hupp 1 8-10 10, Sheesley 0 0-0 0, HRomigh 2 0-0 5, PRomigh 0 1-2 1, Pagani 0 0-0 0, Enderlee 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 14-19 51.

3-point goals — SRuhlman 2, Stuart, Fusetti 2, Potts, Kinger, HRomigh.

Warren 13 7 4 8 – 32

Blackhawk 15 11 11 14 – 51