The Wright City crowd was loud but ineffective during Friday night’s county showdown between Warrenton and Wright City.

The Warrenton boys basketball team jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back, finishing with a 60-27 win on opening night.

“I just wanted to have a fast start and take the crowd out of it early because they have an awesome crowd,” Warrenton Head Coach Mike Uffmann said.

The Warriors returned four of last year’s starters, but needed to replace senior leader Braydan Chmiel.

For one night at least, Uffmann found his replacement.

Sophomore guard Jake Tonioli scored nine points in the first quarter in his first career start.

Tonioli knocked down an open 3-pointer and knifed his way through the Wright City defense en route to a career-high 14 points.

“I’ve seen Jake play since he was a sixth-grader, and he’s always been in the gym,” Uffmann said. “We all know what his ability is, and we knew he was going to step up.”

Tonioli battled a hamstring        injury most of last season, but             finished the year strong.

He scored at least nine points in three of Warrenton’s final six games.

“He’s such a level-headed guy and he’s a smart player,” Uffmann said. “He does all the little things, so it’s nice to see him get rewarded with a big night. He’s a great outside shooter and a great kid.”

Tonioli was 6-of-8 from the field with two rebounds, three assists and three steals.

“He fits in perfectly with this group because we have great guard play right now,” Uffmann said. “His ceiling is as high as he wants to push it. He’s a kind of kid that when the season ends, he’s in the gym the next day.”

Senior forward Trevor Alberternst led Warrenton with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting.

“(Assistant) Coach (Mark) Thomas has done an awesome job working with our posts on their footwork and turning and facing,” Uffmann said. “Caleb (Strauss) and Trevor have a few new tools in their shed from Coach Thomas, and it shows.”

The Warrenton defense slowed down a Wright City offense that was predicated on getting junior guard Devon Holmes open in space.

Holmes led the Wildcats with 12 points.

Uffmann credited unselfish play for the improved defense.

“Brenden Smith, for example, took two shots tonight,” Uffmann said. “That was probably the fewest attempts he’s taken in a game. But he also locked up their best player for three quarters, and that’s what set the tone for us tonight.”

Warrenton returns to the court Nov. 29 in the Winfield Classic.

The Warriors finished sixth in the tournament last season, but Uffmann hopes Friday’s momentum carries over.

“These kids have worked so hard in the last nine months since our season was over, so it’s great for them to see their hard work pay off tonight,” he said. “We just have a great group of kids that are tight-knit, and it showed.”