MOLINE, Ill. — Frank Howell would prefer to play fast and win games with his full court press. But Saturday afternoon (Dec. 4) the Warriors did it the hard way.

Washington (3-0) won a non-conference road battle with Moline, 48-42, with only one player in double-figure scoring. Rebounding was the key, Howell said.

“We talked about making sure we rebounded the basketball and to win 29-20 overall in that department was really a key element of the game,” Howell said.

Howell likes what he sees in his team so far this season.

“To go to Moline and beat a quality team, you have to feel pretty good about that, especially on the heels of a good win on Friday night (at Waterloo West),” he said. “We managed to beat a pretty good team and Moline was playing their eighth game of the season and it was just our third. It was a pretty good sign for us.”

The Warriors held Moline’s star player, Marquisha Harris, a signee with Division I Western Michigan University, to just seven points and two field goals.

“Tia (Dawson) guarded her and did a good job,” Howell said of his Dawson, his All-State center.

Dawson had nine points and eight rebounds and Ashley Piper, a 5-foot-9 senior, led the Warriors with 11 points (including a pair of three-pointers) and three steals. Jazz Royster added eight points.

The Warriors led at halftime 28-20. Moline (5-3) was led by Kylie Romeo who scored a game-high 16 points. Washington committed 22 turnovers and Moline had 16. Moline kept it close by hitting 14-of-21 free throws.

The grind-it-out victory was pleasing to Howell.

“One of the things I was really pleased with is that we were able to win in a different fashion. Friday the tempo was going our way and then we hit some shots. Saturday we were able to grind one out. However we can find a way to win against a pretty good team, that is probably a good sign (about) where you are headed over the course of the season.”

The Warriors have another big week with games on Tuesday at home against Dubuque Senior before traveling to face Sioux City North and Sioux City Heelan on Friday and Saturday.

“We have 16 conference games and five non-conference games this season. We have two big games next weekend against North and Heelan in Sioux City. We will need to be ready to play,” Howell said. “With three games last week and three coming up this week, hopefully our first week out prepares us for this second week of games.”

Moline won the sophomore game, 60-54.

WASHINGTON (48): Ashley Piper 3 2-2 11, Alissa Oney 2 1-3 6, Jordon Pilcher 3 0-0 6, Jazz Royster 3 2-2 8, Tia Dawson 4 1-2 9, Janay Pritchett 0 0-0 0, Madison Kramer 0 0-0 0, Tasha Roundtree 1 0-0 2, Layloni Beard 2 0-0 4, Abby Herb 0 0-0 0, Jordan Carr 0 0-0 0, Brooke Foreman 1 0-0 2, Kelli Klaus 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 6-9 48.

MOLINE (42): Gerard 2 0-0 4, Romeo 4 7-7 16, Knight 1 0-2 2, Jefford 0 0-0 0, Larson 0 0-2 0, Causevic 0 0-0 0, de los Reyes 3 2-3 9, Lankford 1 0-0 2, McCormick 0 2-2 2, Harris 2 3-5 7. Totals 13 14-21 42.

Halftime–Washington 28, Moline 20. 3-pointers–Washington 3 (Piper 2, Oney), Moline 2 (Romeo, de los Reyes). Rebounds–Washington 29 (Dawson 8), Moline 20. Fouls–Washington 20, Moline 13.