Warren’s Alyssa Farr shoots over two Mercyhurst Prep defenders on Saturday in the Dragons’ 46-39 win to end the regular season. Warren will play Erie High for the District 10 6A championship at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at General McLane High School. Photo by Mark Evans

After a win over McDowell on Friday that ensures Warren a spot in the District 10 6A championship game tomorrow, the Lady Dragons won their fourth in five games with a 46-39 non-region victory over Mercyhurst Prep on Saturday at Warren Area High School.

Warren (10-12) will play Erie High (10-7) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at General McLane High School for the 6A crown.

First, they took care of business on Saturday to end the regular season.

“Having to play back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday wasn’t the schedule we wanted, but due to weather, it was unavoidable,” said Warren coach Jenny Phillips. “I knew the girls would be tired on Saturday, so it was critical they bring the energy. For the most part, they played well with the exception of coming out a little flat in the third. In the huddle, coming into the fourth, I told them I just needed eight more minutes, to play hard and smart, and they did just that. I give them a lot of credit for playing two tough games back to back with little rest time in between.”

Alyssa Farr (12), Emma Roell (11), and Alana Stuart (10) all scored in double figures in the win. Stuart had 6 points in Warren’s 11-3 third quarter to secure the win.

“Going into the D10 championship on Wednesday, I look at the first round of region games versus the second and realize how far we came in a matter of days,” said Phillips. “The first round of region play, the girls played a little scared and timid, and let the physicality of the game and mental mistakes get to them. We only had days to prepare to play those same teams over again as our schedule deemed our region play back to back to back. The focus at practice was on defense. We needed to deliver a defensive performance that was given to us during that first round. And the other focus was finding the joy again in the game. After a six-game losing streak, it wasn’t fun anymore, and the girls just weren’t playing as a team. Looking at past games and trying to figure out what we needed to do to get back the joy was simple — don’t focus so much on what you think you have to do, rather, just go play, using your instincts, and find the joy in playing together as a team. I honestly couldn’t be happier with the transformation — in the past couple weeks — the girls have made, truly enjoying being on the court together and winning games as a team.

“And the girls are hungry for that D10 championship,” said Phillips. “Losing by two points last year was hard and the girls who were on the team, especially my seniors, want redemption. I have no doubt they will give it 110% and everything they have.”

MERCYHURST PREP (39)

Harden 0, Kaercher 2 0 5, Netkowicz 5 0 12, Nixon 6 1 16, Savko 0, Taylor 0, Easterling 2 2 6, Morell 0. Totals 15 3-6 39.

WARREN (46)

Farr 4 2 12, Davidson 1 0 2, E.Roell 4 0 11, Stuart 4 2 10, Wotorson 2 1 6, Solberg 1 0 2, Rodgers 0, Hagg 0 3 3. Totals 16 8-16 46.

3-pointers: Kaercher, Netkowicz 2, Nixon 3, Farr 2, E.Roell 3, Wotorson.

Mercyhurst Prep 15 6 15 3 — 39

Warren 15 18 2 11 — 46