The Warwick Warriors ended their season with a well fought play-in game beating the New Rockford-Sheyenne Rockets in OT to earn them a spot in the Region 4 tournament.

It was one intense game after another until they beat North Star in the final game earning them the Region 4 Championship to go to State.

Warwick has not sent a team to state since 1996.

The school put on a pep rally and send off for their beloved Warriors on Wednesday March 15th.

Athletic Director James Day and head coach Ryan Brown (see photos) kicked it off with welcoming and firing up the families and friends along with the student body in attendance.

Several honored speakers were featured for pep talks and prayers. The drum group Lake Region Singers also performed a number of different songs enhancing the significance of this achievement.

A special feature was having members of the 1996 Warwick boys state basketball team join in the festivities. (see photo) And unique to that is Jerry Lenoir of the 1996 team has his son Jason Lenoir starting for the Warriors 2023 team!

Last but not least the players and coaches of the 2023 were brought out and individually introduced to the crowd with cheers and signs erupting. (see photo)

To top it all off the team bus was escorted out of town by several local and county officials complete with lights and sirens followed by a train of fan cars.

Editor’s Update: It was a valiant effort on the part of the Warriors against the undefeated Central Cass Squirrels. Unfortunately the outcome wasn’t what we’d hoped for, but both Warriors players and fans can hold their heads high. It was a close matchup up until the final few minutes when the Squirrels prevailed, 58 to 46.