Warrenton survives sluggish start, runs past Wright City in Hermann Invitational

By Kory Carpenter, Record Sports Editor
Posted 11/7/19

Don’t expect to hear Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 hit song “Call Me Maybe” prior to Warrenton home games in the future. Warrenton Head Coach Mike Uffmann didn’t like the way his team looked …

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Warrenton survives sluggish start, runs past Wright City in Hermann Invitational

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Don’t expect to hear Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 hit song “Call Me Maybe” prior to Warrenton home games in the future.

Warrenton Head Coach Mike Uffmann didn’t like the way his team looked before Tuesday’s 63-34 win over Wright City in the first round of the Hermann Invitational, and he wasn’t surprised when the unworried attitude carried over to the first quarter.

“It just seemed like from the second we came out something was off. They were playing girl band songs through the speakers and we were singing and having fun, and it seemed like we were never locked in like we should be for a game,” he said. “And it definitely translated in the first quarter.”

Warrenton committed four fouls in the first four minutes, and Wright City was in the bonus 13 seconds into the second quarter.

Wright City alternated between man-to-man and zone defenses as it tried to fluster the Warrenton offense, but the Warriors responded with a 19-4 second quarter that essentially put the game away at halftime.

Sophomore guard Jake Tonioli finished with a pain-free 21 points to lead all scorers.

“We started recognizing what they were doing on defense and we did a good job of getting the ball to guys in spots they can do well in,” Uffmann said. “Jake scored 21 and he was wide open with everything he took. We just did a great job of making the extra pass and hitting the open guys.”

Brenden Smith sat most of the first half after picking up two early fouls.

He was spelled by senior guard Clayton Schowe, who kept the ball moving offensively.

“He’s been playing great lately coming off the bench, and it makes us go,” Uffmann said. “Brenden got two fouls two or three minutes into the first quarter, so we lost our leader for almost the whole first half. But Clayton and Dylan (Chandler) did a good job of spelling him and Randy when Randy (McRoberts) got into foul trouble.”

Forwards Caleb Strauss and Trevor Alberternst finished with 12 and six points, respectively.

The duo combined for 29 points in the first meeting with Wright City Nov. 18.

“I wished they looked to establish themselves more early on and dominate, because when they do, we’re a whole lot tougher to guard,” Uffmann said. “A couple of times early on, we kicked it in and they kicked it right back out. And we want them to be the man every single time we get the ball down to them.”

Nine different Warriors scored as Uffmann emptied his bench in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors advanced to face No. 3 Montgomery County in Thursday’s semifinals.

The Wildcats (10-1) beat No. 6 New Haven in the first round.

“It will be fast-paced, but we’ll play better fast-paced than slow-paced,” Uffmann said. “Hopefully we’re going to score early or score late. If we get a layup out of their press, we’ll take it. If not, we need to pull it out and run some time off.”

A win would put Warrenton into its second tournament championship this season.

The Warriors won the Winfield Tournament in December and finished third in the Warrenton Winter Classic earlier this month.

Uffmann sees the 6-1 tournament record as a good sign for his team.

“That’s good, because at the end of the year we play in our biggest tournament,” he said. “You kind of have that do-or-die feeling in a tournament and you know if you lay a dud, you’re out. So it’s good to set that mindset that you can’t lose in a tournament.”

And if Uffmann has anything to say about it, the girl band CDs won’t follow Warrenton into the postseason.

.Dru Forrest attempts to block Dakota Phillips' shot Tuesday in the first round of the Hermann Invitational. Warrenton won, 63-34. Kory Carpenter photo.

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