Two weeks after a much-anticipated season ended short of a district title, Warrenton girls basketball Head Coach Greg Williams summed up the year simply.

“I thought we got cheated,” he said.

Six months ago, the Warriors were the favorites to win the Class 4, District 8 Tournament, which would have been the program’s fourth straight district championship.

But without its senior point guard, and a starting forward who had battled injuries all season, Warrenton (14-11) couldn’t compensate in a 38-37 semifinal loss to Mexico.

“We wouldn’t have lost to Mexico if we were healthy, and I knew we would have put up a better fight against St. Dominic in the district championship,” Williams said. 

Like 22 other times this season, senior point guard Rylie Cox watched the game in street clothes.

“I feel bad for Rylie because she had a great chance to be an all-conference first-teamer, so losing that really hurt us,” he added.

Junior forward Allison Tonioli played on a sore ankle, and the Warrenton offense struggled to score.

A week later, St. Dominic lost by 21 to Incarnate Word in the first round of the state playoffs.

“I watched St. Dominic and Incarnate in the next round, and I knew in my heart we should have been there,” Williams said. “We were looking forward to that game because we had worked all summer for it.”

In the loss to Mexico, Warrenton’s biggest fears were realized.

The Bulldogs surrounded senior forward Kayla Nelson and dared the Warriors to shoot it from outside.

They did, but missed the majority of their 3-point attempts.

After the game, Williams said the summer would be spent shooting.

It will also be spent trying to replace starters Nelson, Cox and fellow senior Ashtyn Dixon, who helped Warrenton win three district titles during their careers.

“There is going to be a lot of changes,” he said. “We’re going to play a more exciting brand of basketball, because this year we got a little stale. Every coach would tell you our game plan was getting it to Nelson and Dixon because the other kids just weren’t ready.”

Notable returners include Tonioli, sophomores Brooke Smith, Lexi Frederick and Miranda Nelson, and freshmen Morgan Frye, Allison Gerard and Malea Payne.

Williams hopes a few of his returning players can become more consistent scorers next season.

“When Nelson was getting double- and triple-teamed, somebody else needed to put the ball in the basket,” he said, “and we just couldn’t get it done this year.”