After running off three wins in a row, the Warrenton  Lady Warriors suffered an 18-point home loss to St. Charles West Friday night.
The Lady Warriors (13-9) lost 52-34 in their home finale. The loss came three days after the Lady Warriors secured a win over Orchard Farm last Tuesday.
Warrenton trailed most of the game. They made a couple runs in the second half but were unable to overcome a 23-13 halftime deficit. St. Charles West was able to build up its lead in part due to back-to-back steals that turned into layups to give them a 14-7 second quarter lead.
“No excuse for distractions but snow days and senior night and we just didn’t seem like we were real focused tonight,” Lady Warriors Basketball Coach Greg Williams said. “And then a little color blindness. We’re passing to the wrong colored jerseys. And you dig the hole and then you know we need a little more character if we’re going to come out of that. So that’s just kind of the way it is.”
The Lady Warriors trimmed the deficit multiple times in the third quarter to seven and eight points. They were unable to cut into the lead any further. Warrenton trailed 37-29 near the end of the third quarter when St. Charles West senior guard Hannah Myers hit a three point shot as time expired. She made another three point shot to start the fourth quarter and followed that up with a two point basket to finish her 8-0 run.
That was kind of the cherry on top of this night,” Williams said. “We got to dig a little deeper and get some things sorted out… If we don’t shoot the ball with 26 seconds before the end of the quarter, then we’re never in that position. Then if you go ahead and get a rebound then that ball never. So all these little events. Basketball’s just a chain of events and those things all predicate off each other.”
Friday’s loss concluded the regular season, with the district tournament slated to start this upcoming week. Williams noted the progress the Lady Warriors have made this season. After starting the season 1-4, they have since won 13 out of their last 18 games. Williams believes the long layoff between games could benefit the Lady Warriors but said they will know that depending on how they play at the district tournament.
“We’ll see that in districts,” Williams said. “If it turns out good, then it will be a good time to heal and rest or whatever. And if it blows up in our face then yeah we’ll have to rethink that…We’re creatures of habit. So we need to kind of stay on point.”
Warrenton is the one seed in the Class 5, District 4 tournament.They will receive a bye in the first round. They will play the winner of McCluer North and Hazelwood East. The Lady Warriors’ semifinal game is scheduled to be held at 5:30 p.m. March 1.