Warrenton senior Sophi Mueller’s 26 points helped the Warrenton Lady Warriors win the 2024 Warrenton Winter Shootout. 

Mueller, who was named tournament MVP, scored 26 points, including seven of Warrenton’s first nine points, in Warrenton’s 64-47 win over Liberty High School last week in the championship game of the Warrenton Winter Shootout. 

“We came out ready to go,” Warrenton Head Coach Hannah Logan said. “We had a game plan, the girls stuck with it. They were coachable and we came out just the way we wanted to.”

Warrenton (13-3, 5-0 GAC North) went on an early first quarter run to take control of the game early. After the two teams traded baskets, Warrenton went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-2 lead just over four minutes into the game. After Nevaeh Hill’s layup, Mueller scored the next five points for Warrenton. A post player, Mueller connected on one of her two three point field goals in the game on the run. 

Mueller thinks her previous experience in the backcourt helps with her comfort level with making shots from the perimeter. 

“When I transferred here, I originally was a guard,” Mueller said. “Last year was my first year ever playing post. So it was a completely different change for me. But coach always tells me if, if it’s open, shoot it and if it’s not, then just drive. And if the drive is not open, eventually kick it out and that’s what worked for us tonight.”

Warrenton outscored Liberty 7-0 in the quarter after the timeout to lead 16-2 at the end of the opening quarter. Erin Klasing and Mueller scored on driving layups and Sophia Benke connected on a three point field goal with less than one minute remaining to take a 14-point lead. 

Warrenton took a 35-16 lead into the halftime break, but Liberty guard Olivia Schmersahl attempted to get the Eagles back in the game in the third quarter. Schmersahl connected on three three point field goals on three consecutive possessions to trim Warrenton’s lead to 13 points under two minutes into the third quarter. 

“At halftime, I told them it would be a game of runs,” Logan said. “They would come back with a little bit of a run and we just had to be able to stop it. So we were actually playing off the three.  Playing the drive more. So when she came out, caught us off guard and unfortunately, we didn’t adjust as quick as I was hoping, but then we did adjust and we got it.”

Warrenton took control in the fourth quarter, aided by a 9-2 run over a 1:41 stretch to put the Lady Warriors up 60-41 with 2:48 remaining. Sophia Benke’s three point field goal kicked off the 9-2 run. Mueller, Isabel Benke and Nevaeh Hill each scored two points on the run. 

“The more we got up and the more patient we were, the clock was on our side,” Mueller said. “So we wanted to move the ball around a little bit more and get shots up and eventually just have our lead like we did.”

Warrenton won their home tournament one year after falling to Timberland in the championship game. It was a focus for the Lady Warriors to win the team title this season. 

“ We just really just wanted to win the whole thing and be the champions,” Logan said.

Warrenton earned wins over Miller Career and Francis Howell North in the first two rounds of the tournament.  

Mueller was one of four Warrenton players to score at least 10 points. Hill scored 12 points and finished with 15 rebounds. Sophia Benke scored 11 points. She connected on three three point field goals. Isabel Benke added 10 points and a team leading six assists. 

Warrenton followed up their tournament title with a 54-43 win over Winfield to move to 5-0 in conference games. They went undefeated in the GAC North last season.