Region 5 champion Warren came into the playoffs riding a four-game winning streak and 17-4 overall record, including two wins over these very same Oilers. The Dragons, however, were without five players — three due to transfer rules and two due to injury — from the regular season.

But, whichever way you slice it, turnovers ended Warren’s season abruptly.

“The story of the game was turnovers,” said Warren coach Jeff Berdine. “We had 21 of them and we gave up too many points off those turnovers to overcome not being good offensively tonight.”

After a 9-9 first quarter, Oil City took a one-point lead into halftime.

Warren’s Logan Crissey goes up for two points in the Dragons’ 59-51 District 10 4A playoff loss to Oil City on Tuesday at Mercyhurst University. Photo by Mark Evans

The Oilers built a four-point lead entering the fourth quarter of the low-scoring affair, and while Warren trimmed the lead to one possession, Oil City took advantage of a plethora of mistakes.

The Oilers scored 10 of their 20 fourth-quarter points via free throws when Warren was forced to foul.

“I also felt this was the first game of the three matchups with them that we were not sharp mentally on defense,” said Berdine. “We made a lot of mistakes and they turned those mistakes into points.”

Will McMahon and Nevin Stinson scored 17 points each in the win. Stinson had 11 and McMahon 7 in the 20-16 fourth quarter.

Logan Crissey had two 3-pointers in the fourth and finished with 15 points for Warren. Chase Sitler had two quick driving buckets to start the fourth quarter, but ended the fourth fouling out, as did teammate Lucas Thrift — Warren’s leading scorer with 16 points.

Sitler finished with 7 points, Tage Wyman 5 and Bradey Chase 4.

Oil City (14-8) advances to play Sharon (16-7) on Friday at a site and time to be determined.

OIL CITY (59)

Malet 3 0 6, Heise 4 3 12, Stinson 6 5 17, Singleton 2 0 5, Jones 0, McMahon 6 5 17, Fink 1 0 2. Totals 22 13-23 59.

WARREN (51)

Thrift 7 1 16, Sitler 3 1 7, Crissey 6 0 15, Chase 2 0 4, Huffman 0, Spiegel 0, Zdarko 1 0 2, Wyman 2 0 5, Corey 1 0 2. Totals 23 2-3 51.

3-pointers: Heise, Singleton, Thrift, Crissey 3, Wyman.

Oil City 9 15 15 20 — 59

Warren 9 14 12 16 — 51