Two years ago, it was a surprise.

Last year, it was expected.

This year, the Warrenton girls basketball program hopes a district championship is the first step on a long playoff run.

Warrenton (22-3) earned the No. 1 seed in Thursday’s Class 4, District 8 tournament at Wentzville Liberty, and will face Hannibal Thursday in the semifinals.

The No. 5 seed upset No. 4 Liberty in the first round 

“I honestly wish we didn’t have the byes,” Warrenton Head Coach Greg Williams said. “I’d rather play a No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed game, and move forward. But we’ll deal with it. We’ve had a No. 1 or No. 2 seed the last two years, so we’re used to it.”

Hannibal is 8-16 on the season.

“Obviously we’re looking to win it,” senior forward Jenny Jansen said. “Last year we beat both of those teams (Liberty and Hannibal), so if it’s anything like last year, I think we should be fine and move on to get a third district title in a row.”

St. Dominic (13-8) was given the No. 2 seed.

“But don’t look past Mexico,” Williams said. “They’ve been playing better and have won games lately. They would be a tough out, as well as St. Dominic.”

Warrenton is fully aware of the upset possibilities in a district tournament.

Last season the Warriors needed a late bucket from Jansen to send the championship game against Fulton to overtime.

The Warriors eventually won, 48-42.

The District 8 champion will advance to play the District 7 champion Tuesday at Francis Howell Central in the first round of the Class 4 state tournament.

Warrenton has lost to St. Charles and St. Charles West in that game each of the last two seasons.

“We’re a veteran team now,” Williams said. “My first year we kind of looked around and said, ‘Oh wow, we won this thing.’ Last year it was kind of an expectation. Hopefully this year we’ll just knock the thing down and go head-to-head with some of the top teams in the state. There are some tough sectionals out there, but you have to beat the best at some point.”