Photo Courtesy of Mark Evans From left, Warren’s Region 5 first team stars Sami Ruhlmann and Haley Kosminski.
It’s been written over and over that Warren’s 2024-2023 girls’ basketball team had something to prove. After graduating two out of three times District 10 championships and 1,000-point scorers, the returning Lady Dragons did just that, finishing 18-8 with a District 5 title and a trip to the PIAA Class 4A tournament for the fifth straight season.
The Three Dragons were selected among the all-stars by a vote of the district coaches, including the co-district player of the year, junior Sammie Ruhlman. Also, a junior, Haley Kosminski, joins Ruhlman on the first team in District 5, and fellow sophomore Alanna Stewart makes the second team.
“Sami has been our rock steady all season with her ability to manage the point for us,” said Warren coach Lisa Lavan. “She does a great job of controlling the tempo for us and knowing when to slow things down for a really fast team. She’s a first pass guard, and it’s been fun to watch her this year. Her defense has also been great all season for us. She has a great height sitting at 5-foot-11.” now “.
Ruhlman averaged over 9 points per game, as well as six assists and five rebounds. Kosminski and Stewart averaged over 8 points each, and Kosminski led the team with over seven rebounds per game.
“Halo is a beast” Lavan said. “I love her game and she’s really made a name for herself. She can defend anyone on the floor 1-5 and is now scoring more. She’s a bounce machine, and next year, she expects almost every game to be a double/double for her.
Photo courtesy of Mark Evans Trying to beat the press is Warren’s Region 5 ranked All-Star Alana Stewart.
Alana has a knack for scoring and that has helped us several times this season. Lavan added. “She’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached. She also has a toughness to guard against. I wouldn’t mess with her.”
It’s no secret that all three, and all but one of the rest of the squad, will return in 2023-2024.
“It’s been three years in a row now that we have the best regional player on our programme,” Lavan said. “Tradition doesn’t graduate. This team wanted a district title and worked hard on a new system to get it done. The icing on the cake is to have two on the first team and one on the second team. Truthfully, with this team’s credit, any seven of our players could have been picked.”
All stars of the region 5 girls
First team
Lenny Harrington, Conneaut, then.
Sammy Ruhlmann, Warren, Jr.
Haley Kosminski, Warren, Jr.
Tyler Elchynski, Corey, SR.
Estella Adams, Franklin, Jr.
Hannah Brady, Conneaut, Jr.
The second team
Mady Merzak, Oil City, SR.
Katie Ball, Franklin, then.
Alanna Stewart, Warren, then.
Jimmy Blum, Franklin, Jr.
Eliza Harrington, Conneaut, SR.
District Champion – Warren
Regional Players of the Year – Lainie Harrington, Conneaut, Sammie Ruhlman and Warren