The Warrenton boys basketball team is starting to build some momentum. And they are doing so at the right time, just ahead of districts.
Since losing the second-round game against Fulton in the …
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The Warrenton boys basketball team is starting to build some momentum. And they are doing so at the right time, just ahead of districts.
Since losing the second-round game against Fulton in the Southern Boone tournament and falling to 7-11 on the season, the Warriors have won four of their last six games.
They knocked off co-conference champ Winfield on Courtwarming, and then beat Clopton the next day. However, due to MSHSAA’s guidelines regarding how many quarters a player can play in a given night, the Warriors were forced to forfeit their game against the Hawks.
However, they bounced right back by taking care of Orchard Farm before falling to Winfield in overtime. In the past week, Warrenton took care of business on Senior Night against St. Charles West before falling to Washington in their last game of the regular season.
“Our defense is carrying us right now,” Head Coach Mark Thomas said. “We are creating our offense from getting deflections and causing turnovers. “
Kirksville and Fulton earned the first-round byes as they are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively. Warrenton received the fourth seed and will square off against fifth seed Hannibal on Monday at 6 p.m. The district tournament is being held at Mexico High School.
The Pirates, who are 9-12, are somewhat of a familiar foe as these two teams played one another in the preseason back in November. However, the game plan is to play Warrenton basketball.
“I haven't seen them since the jamboree in November,” Thomas said. “So I’ll be going to scout them this week.”
The Warriors are led by three seniors, which all happen to be related. Brothers Brett Smith and Sam Toenges and their cousin, Travis Toebben, are the catalysts for the team as they account for over 82 percent of the points scored this year.
“We have a great chemistry between the three of us,” Toebben said. “Defenses do game plan around us, force us to get the ball out of our hands but we trust each other and we know how to share the ball.”
With a win in the district opener, Warrenton will face Kirksville in the semifinals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
