Warren's Emma Ruhlman drives to the hoop during the Dragons' District 10 Class 5A semifinal against Grove City at the Hagerty Family Events Center, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The Dragons defeated the Eagles, 47-25, to advance to the D10 championship for the third time in four years. Photo courtesy Mark Evans.

‘Back on Track’

March 3, 2022

ERIE, Pa. – Warren coach Lisa LaVan said at the end of the regular season that the Lady Dragons, who entered the playoffs on a 3-game skid, needed to “get back on track.”

Riley Childress’ steal and layup with 6:47 to play in the first half seemed to be exactly what Warren needed to do just that as it helped the Dragons turn a 12-12 tie into a 47-25 win over Grove City in their District 10 Class 5A semifinal.

“We’re back on track, we definitely are,” LaVan said. “We’re not going to take anything for granted. We said one day at a time, one game at a time.”

See LaVan’s full interview:

Childress’ play was part of a 9-0 Warren (18-6) run in the second quarter. Grove City (15-9) was able to take advantage of cold shooting from the Dragons in the first quarter and knocked down a pair of threes (one each from Delaney Callahan and Izzy Gamble) to take a 12-10 lead into the second.

Warren’s Riley Childress goes in for a layup against Grove City in their District 10 Class 5A semifinal at the Hagerty Family Events Center on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Photo courtesy Mark Evans.

Halle Kuzminski came up with a steal on the Eagles’ next possession after the Dragons took the 14-12 lead, and that led to a traditional 3-point play for Emma Ruhlman.

After a defensive stop, Alana Stuart, who started the run with a pair of free throws, capped it with a layup to give Warren a 19-12 lead.

“We struggled early a little bit on offense, some of our shots weren’t falling that maybe should have, but at the end of the day it’s about our defense,” LaVan said. “It’s been our staple all year, continues to be our staple. No matter what we’re doing on offense, we know we can defend.”

Callahan hit a three late in the quarter to cut the halftime deficit to 19-15. While the Eagles were able to stay in it in the first half thanks to some timely 3-pointers, the Dragons went 0-7 from distance in the half.

“Shooters shoot and I think between me, Riley, and Sammie (Ruhlman) we’re going to hit those shots,” Ruhlman said. “And if we don’t, our defense is going to get us those transitions and take it down the court and get us those easy layups.”

See Ruhlman’s full postgame interview:

After missing their first eight shots from behind the arc, Childress ended the Dragons’ 3-point drought with a corner three with 5:22 to play in the third quarter.

“We’re just gonna keep shooting until they start falling,” Childress said.

Childress’ full interview:

Childress hit another three for good measure to give Warren a 28-18 lead midway through the third.

Warren closed the third quarter with a 16-2 run that put the game out of reach.

“We had two very good practices, our gameplan was good and I knew we were due to just go off and I think we really did that,” Ruhlman said. “And I think we’re going to keep doing that.”

Callahan finished with 11 points, Gamble added eight, and Emma Santom four

Childress and Ruhlman each finished with 16 points and Stuart had seven in the win

Warren will face a familiar foe in the D10 championship game Saturday at a time and location to be announced.

For the third time in four years, the Dragons will square off against Slippery Rock for the title. Three years ago Wednesday, the Dragons defeated the Rockets for the program’s second D10 title, and the two met in a classic a year ago in Warren.

“We are not taking Slippery Rock lightly,” LaVan said. “We know each other very well, we’re going to put in our game plan the next two days and unleash the beast that we are.”

         

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