The stat? It was her team’s total turnovers, most of which were committed during the final minutes as the Thunder made a furious comeback effort to make the final outcome somewhat in question until the final buzzer.

“With the game tomorrow, you’re just right back to turn around thinking about tomorrow,” Warner said. “So yeah, there is very little celebrating right now … We need to be ready for tomorrow.”

If anyone understands how to manage the process of preparing for the championship game it’s Warner. Thursday’s win marked the fifth straight semifinal win she’s coached the Knights through while managing to top off the previous four with state championships.

But that’s not to suggest it’s business as usual for the Knights. In fact, very little has been usual for Warner’s team this season.

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

“This has been the toughest year I’ve coached. No question,” a grateful and noticeably emotional Warner expressed to the media. “…The amount of adversity that this team has faced all year has been a (challenge.) They’ve had to be a different team multiple times, meaning that multiple people have had to step up and fill in roles when others have been down or out. And then obviously, (it’s) no secret with Kennedy going down. That’s a huge part of our team that we had to bounce back from that and kind of reassess our identity and figure out the differences that we needed to make to be able to still be successful.”

Lone Peak lost the services of star guard Kennedy Woolston during a late December out-of-state tournament when she tore her ACL. And it’s been a battle every since with the Knights entering the 6A tournament as the No. 5 seed, despite having won four prior state championships.

“We truly play for each other,” said Lone Peak senior Lave Holdcraft, who has taken on the role as the team’s emotional leader. “That’s what separates us and that’s what has kept us together since Kennedy went down. We’re doing it for her and we’re doing it for each other, and now being one game away from a championship just feels amazing.”

Holdcraft only scored five points during Thursday’s win, but hauled in 13 rebounds and was constantly seen encouraging her teammates while showing a lot of emotion.

And Holdcraft wasn’t alone in that regard.

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

Big contributions were provided by Charli Warner, who finished with a game-high 14 points and Maddie Pope, who added 12 points of her own.

And then there was Lone Peak’s stifling defense which led to a second quarter route which firmly dictated the course of the game. Trailing 13-10 after the first quarter, the Knights locked down considerably and outscored the Thunder 18-2 to lead 28-15 at the half.

“W challenged them to have more heart,” Warner said of her second quarter directive. “Westlake is a tough and gritty team too, but it was just having them focus on just spurts–like two minutes, four minutes– and just lock in. And they locked into what we’re familiar with … We weren’t perfect at it, but I think the girls really worked together and talked a lot more.”

It all led to what could prove an extraordinary accomplishment of a fifth straight state title, which is a fact not lost on Warner or her players in the least.

“There’s something to be said about proving somebody wrong and owning that,” Warner concluded. “So I think it is special to think about that opportunity yet again, and I’m super excited for the girls to be able to be back there.”

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

Lone Peak will vie for that elusive fifth straight title when taking on Bingham in the 6A state championship on Friday.

Lone Peak's Charli Warner was one of the Knight's top contributors during 6A state semifinal action versus Westlake

Lone Peak's Lave Holdcraft is greeted by her teammates during a timeout of Lone Peak's semifinal win over Westlake on Thursday. February 26, 2026

Westlake's Avery Thompson drives for a layup during her team's loss to Lone Peak during Thursday's semifinal matchup. February 26, 2026

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