For eight minutes on Friday, the Warrenton girls basketball team authored a best-seller.

The problem was that, unlike the team’s recent games, in which the Warriors would fall behind and then fight like mad to trim a deficit with a fantastic finish, Warrenton started strong only to have a nightmarish finish.

At Orchard Farm, Warrenton scored 10 of the first 12 points and led by eight at the end of the first quarter.

That effort wouldn’t last, however, as the host Eagles earned the 51-35 win as Warrenton (5-8) dropped the team’s fourth game in succession and fifth loss in the last six games.

The result on Friday came much to the chagrin of Warrenton senior forward Zoe Duncan.

“We just have to work hard to play a better team game, a more complete game,” Duncan said. “It’s going to take hard work and we’re going to have to do it for (32 minutes).”

Warriors coach Hannah Logan said she felt the team regressed in the loss.

The coach wasn’t speaking about the game from the first quarter to a 20-17 halftime deficit to the even tougher second half; she said she felt the team’s psyche took a collective blow.

“We were lacking tempo and communication, but still, somehow, had the lead for most of the first half,” Logan said. “Our offense, we tried just about everything and we just couldn’t get into a flow. In my eyes, tonight we played very timidly, and I’m not sure why.”

Warrenton’s 18 second-half points were matched by Orchard Farm’s output in the third quarter alone.

Duncan led Warrenton with 16 points while Savannah Miller added 10 in the defeat.

While things are, indeed, tough for Warrenton, the team doesn’t figure to catch any breaks in the coming days.

Weather permitting, Warrenton is scheduled to start the 12th annual Washington Tournament at 4 p.m. on Monday against top-seeded Lutheran South.

“This is a tournament with some tough private schools and some very good Class 6 teams,” Logan said. “It’s going to be a tough week of games for us. We’re going to have to work hard and play as a team.”