Two months after a 33-point home loss to Warrenton on opening night, the Wright City boys basketball team will have another shot at the second-seeded Warriors in the first round of the Hermann Invitational.

Warrenton’s size and speed frustrated the Wildcats Nov. 18 in front of a packed Wright City gym.

“Hopefully we’ll look a lot better than we did the first game,” Wright City Head Coach Ken Brown said. “I think the first game we were a little nervous, and I think the team thought we were a little better than we were. I also don’t think we thought Warrenton was as good as they are, and they are a really good team. I’m surprised they didn’t get the No. 1 seed.”

Warrenton was 9-2 coming into the week, while Wright City has struggled at 3-10.

Devon Holmes led the Wildcats in the first meeting, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Dakota Phillips added nine points and five rebounds, but Wright City was unable to contain the Warrenton duo of Trevor Alberternst and Caleb Strauss, who combined for 29 points and 14 rebounds.

“I think they’ll be a lot more loose this time,” Brown said. “The first time we played in a sold-out gym and it was really loud, and I don’t think this game will be as hyped as that game. I just want to see them play better overall and not have that fear factor in their minds, and I think we will.”

If Wright City can pull off the upset Tuesday night, they will likely face Eastern Missouri Conference foe and No. 2 seed Montgomery County in the semifinals.

The teams meet for the first time Thursday at Montgomery County.

“We’re guaranteed three games, and I think we can win two,”

Brown said. “If we do that, we’ll get a trophy. I want to get some sort of hardware. I’m disappointed in the season to this point, but we can always turn things around.”