Tenacity was enough to erase a deficit, but is no substitute for offense.

Winless Warren Central refused to wilt, down 16-1 in the first quarter.

The Lady Vikes (0-4) scratched back into the game thanks to rebounding and defense, but missed layups proved costly in a 45-39 loss to Raymond on Tuesday.

WC missed five layups and four free throws in the fourth quarter, and the closest it came was on Sh’qulla Neal’s steal and layup that cut it to 39-38 with just under two minutes to play.

That bucket erased a six-minute span without a field goal, but Raymond (3-1) pulled away in the final moments. Tamera Williams converted a one-and-one opportunity to put Raymond up 41-39 with a 1:20 to play. Miesha Bell turned a steal into a plus-one layup with 21.9 left to ice the contest.

No player on either side scored in double figures. Neal led the Lady Vikes with seven points, while Audrianna Ratliff and Jazmine Walker added six apiece.

Williams led Raymond with eight points.

WC coach Jackie Martin believes the best is yet to come out for her young squad.

“I told them, it’s not how you start, but how you finish,” Martin said. “Overall, I think we showed a lot of pride. We’re growing.”