Warren’s boys basketball team built a nine-point lead to start the second half, but Fort LeBoeuf’s Carson Papay got hot and the Bison pulled off a 52-50 win on Tuesday at Warren Area High School in the Region 6 basketball opener for both.

Papay had three 3-pointers and 12 points in the third quarter alone to tie the score at 36-36. He hit another of his six 3-pointers in the game in the fourth quarter, and Warren’s Logan Crissey missed a trey at the buzzer that would have won it.

“We left too many plays out there tonight to beat an equal opponent,” said Warren coach Jeff Berdine, whose Dragons are 1-2 overall. Fort LeBoeuf is 6-0 overall.

For a stretch of the third quarter, Warren would trade making one of two free throws for Papay 3-pointers while the Bison rallied. The Dragons finished 13-of-21 at the line.

“(The free throw line) and a lot of rushed possessions kept us from being able to catch up,” said Berdine. “We have talked about learning who we are in the month of December and the last two games have proven to be just that, good opportunities to learn from our mistakes and grow. Losing a very winnable region home game is a tough start.”

Crissey had seven of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Fort LeBoeuf allowed Warren to stay close down the stretch, shooting 6-of-14 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. The Bison made 9-of-22 for the game, but the 3-ball sunk the Dragons as LeBoeuf hit nine, including five 3-pointers in the second half.

Leihden Wotorson had Warren’s only 3-pointer; he finished with 15 points for Warren, including 6-of-8 at the free throw line. Teammates Grady Corey and Chase Sitler added 7 points each in the loss.

“We have a lot of guys who have never played at this level and need to learn what it takes to win,” said Berdine. “I expected the month of December to be a struggle with a learning curve. I think that is what we are seeing.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Charlie Blum finished with 11 points and Max Speigel added 10 in Warren’s 41-37 junior varsity win.

FORT LeBOEUF (52)

Papay 7 3 23, Vargo 2 0 4, Cacchione 0, Wasiulewski 0, Villa 0 3 3, Friedman 2 0 4, Matkovich 2 0 6, Goellner 4 2 11, Burdick 0 1 1. Totals 17 9-22 52.

WARREN (50)

Thrift 0, Sitler 3 1 7, Wotorson 4 6 15, Crissey 7 3 17, McMeans 1 1 3, Eaton 0 1 1, Zdarko 0, Wyman 0, Corey 3 1 7. Totals 18 13-21 50.

3-pointers: Papay 6, Matkovich 2, Goellner, Wotorson.

Fort LeBoeuf 10 12 14 16 — 52

Warren 8 14 14 14 — 50

Jayvees: Warren 41, Fort LeBoeuf 37