PEORIA - The University High School basketball team was hoping to build on its confidence.

Instead, it goes back to the drawing board.

With swagger in their step following Tuesday's 50-41 victory over Pontiac, the Pioneers built a first-quarter lead but allowed Peoria Woodruff to connect on 7-of-8 attempts from the 3-point line in the

second quarter en route to a 60-50 road loss Saturday night.

"I think that second quarter made the difference in the game for us," said first-year U High coach Bob Fitzgerald, whose team was playing its first true road game on the season.

"We knew coming in we'd have to let them shoot the ball a little bit from the outside to give ourselves a chance a slow them down, take them out of a run game. To Woodruff's credit, those were some huge shots."

The Warriors fed off it.

Trailing by three, Woodruff (6-3) became ignited beyond the 3-point arc, hitting its first five attempts in the quarter to build a 19-16 lead. The five consecutive made 3-pointers tied two other teams for fifth-best in state history.

The Warriors continued the spree by converting two of their final three 3-pointers to go ahead 30-18 at the half. Woodruff finished the quarter with 26 points, 21 coming on 3s from DeAndre Nunn and Marshall Branch.

"I wasn't expecting it, but those guys are capable of that," Woodruff coach Charlie Thomas said. "I thought they'd go in and maybe knock down one or two."

The barrage of 3s beat a defensive scheme that allows outside shots.

"Our zone was designed to pack it in so they're going to have to shoot over us to beat us," U High guard Derek Dauenbaugh said. "Give them credit, they knocked them down."

Trailing by 14 points midway through the third, the Pioneers (2-5) ended the quarter on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to 10. Twice in the fourth quarter, U High was within single digits, but the Warriors went 6-of-9 from the free-throw line to put the game away.

"It's always tough when you think you're coming back and they hit that dagger, whether it be a three- or two-point play," said Dauenbaugh, who had a game-high 18 points and five 3s. "Anytime they counter your attack, it's always tough to come back from."

Woodruff, which shot 54 percent (19 of 35) over the final three quarters, was led by Nunn's 12 points and 11 from Branch.

After shooting over 50 percent in Tuesday's win, the Pioneers were limited to 41 percent (18 of 44) and committed 17 turnovers. Eric McCullough scored nine points, while Clint Vatterrodt added eight.

"Nobody likes to lose. To be honest, it's not really that tough for us," said Fitzgerald, whose team will play three games in five days this week.

"… as much as I don't like to lose, I like to see the fact that our ballclub came out, fought hard, maybe had a chance and did a nice job of some areas of the game. I'm not that upset."