The Warrenton Warriors came through at the charity stripe in overtime in their comeback win over Francis Howell North on Friday night. 

Warrenton (5-4) scored all 10 of their overtime points from the free throw line in their 41-35 win over the Knights. Warrenton sophomore Deadrick Forrest knocked down all eight of his free throw attempts in overtime to help the Warriors win their second consecutive game. Forrest also knocked down one of his two free throw attempts with less than a minute remaining in regulation to tie the game. 

“Last game, I wasn’t too consistent with my free throws,” Forrest said. “So I practiced, stayed after. Got consistent with my free throws. It’s all memory.” 

Warrenton senior Troy Anderson put the Warriors up for good in overtime by knocking down two free throws to give the Warriors a 35-33 lead. Prior to Anderson connecting on the free throws in overtime, Warrenton only led for 7.6 seconds the entire second half. 

“I told them right after the game. I said I feel very confident with our group that we got in our decision making if we have a lead,” Warrenton boys basketball coach Mark Thomas said. “It doesn’t have to be a huge lead. I just need three points, guys, three points. (It) makes me feel a lot more comfortable. And I thought they did a good job to keep fighting.”

With the Warriors trailing throughout a majority of the fourth quarter, Warrenton added a wrinkle to their 2-3 zone defense. Thomas noted they changed the front of the zone to give a different look. He credited the Warrior players for adjusting to the change that forced the Knights to speed up their offense. 

After Forrest knocked down one of two free throws, Warrenton and Francis Howell North were tied 31-31 with around 56 seconds remaining. The Knights were content to run down the clock of the final shot. The Warriors switched to a man to man defense and Francis Howell North senior Isaac Bollinger missed a three point field goal attempt as time expired. 

Thomas said they anticipated the Knights would put the ball in sophomore Elijah Bollinger’s hands. 

“We knew there was gonna be a lot of screening action to get him an open look,” Thomas said. “So we had to go man. So that way we didn’t just lose him if he cut through the zone a bunch or got a couple step down screens or skip screen. So we switched the man so we could switch all screens. So he would at least always have somebody on it and he came off the ball screen and ended up with Troy on him and another guy on him and it turned out it worked out in our favor.”

Warrenton went on an 9-1 run towards the end of the third quarter to erase a seven point deficit and take a brief lead in the third quarter. Forrest scored five points on the 9-1 run. Elijah Peth knocked down a three point field goal and Isham Keeper knocked down a field goal to aid the Warriors’ run. 

Forrest led Warrenton with 23 points in the win. He scored 17 points in the first half and the overtime period. 

Thomas said with the Knights face guarding Anderson to take him away and taking an extra defender, Forrest had space and was able to make several key plays for the Warriors. 

“Once he has space, he can make a play,” Thomas said. “So I think tonight he really relaxed. And this is the first game I think he’s played comfortable. And within himself and just with confidence since our very first game of the year. So getting him going, that’s a huge night for us and we need those. We need everybody going.” 

Forrest said his confidence was a key factor in the productive offensive performance. 

“I think it was all about confidence really,” Forrest said. “I believed in myself this game and that’s what happened. So I just gotta have more confidence.”

Warrenton followed their overtime win with a 73-28 win over St. Clair Dec. 18. With the win, Warrenton extended their winning streak to three games and moved over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 2-1. 

Warrenton is scheduled to compete in the Hy-Vee Arena Holiday Shootout Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 in Kansas City.