ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ERIN RICHMOND
An 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter carried the Sunrise Academy Buffaloes to a 52-40 win over Marion on Saturday, giving the Warriors a sixth-place finish at the Trojan Classic.
Sunrise put together a 9-2 run over the last five minutes of the opening quarter to take a 15-7 lead at the first break. Eight points from Jason Hett, including six that sparked a 9-2 Marion run to finish the quarter, pulled the Warriors within one point by halftime at 21-20.
“Coach Ostmeyer told us we had a good defensive half and that we were getting good shots, they just weren’t falling,” said Josh Kelsey, who had a key steal in the second period. “If we just keep up the defense, we will stay in it.”
Even with a pair of 3-pointers from Travis Hett, the Warriors were outscored in the third quarter, 17-12. Bart Visinskis, the Buffaloes’ 6-foot-7 post player, scored nine of Sunrise’s points while Brett Michael added seven.
Visinskis’s bucket with four seconds left gave Sunrise a 36-32 lead at the final break.
Sunrise started the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run that extended its lead to 46-34 with 4:20 play.
Marion pulled to within seven points when Russell Ploutz scored in the lane with 2:08 to play. But Sunrise made six of eight free throws down the stretch while Marion made one of five.
Sunrise shot 53 percent (16-30) from the floor while Marion shot 35 percent (15-42). Sunrise had a marked advantage at the free-throw line, making 17 of 27 while Marion made six of 12.
Hesston-Marion hung on to a slim lead in the fourth quarter to take a 47-46 nail-biter from Hesston in the Trojan Classic consolation semifinals on Thursday night.
The Warriors led 35-34 heading into the final period and got a big boost with a pair of three-point plays by Josh Kelsey and Travis Hett to start the quarter.
Kelsey’s was the traditional variety when his shot in the lane dropped through the hoop as he was falling backward because of the foul. Hett’s 3-pointer came from behind the arc with 6:46 to play and gave Marion a 41-34 lead.
Hesston rallied with a 9-2 surge to tie the game at 43 with 3:06 to go. Marion got basket from Travis Hett and two free throws from Jason Hett to take a 47-43 lead with 32.3 seconds left.
Hesston made it exciting with a 3-pointer from Rob Moore with 3.5 seconds left. Following a Hesston timeout, Travis Hett was fouled on the inbounds pass to stop the clock at 2.2 seconds. He missed the front end of a one-and-one, but a desperation shot by Moore at the buzzer was off the mark to preserve the Marion win.
With seven points each from Jason Hett and Russell Ploutz, Marion staked a 17-8 lead after one quarter.
The Warriors led 25-17 at halftime. Seven points from Michael Petrocci helped Hesston to pull within one point after three quarters.
Jason Hett led the Warriors with 16 points and Travis Hett added 12. Marion made 42 percent of its shots for the game (18-43) while Hesston made 34 percent (14-42).
The game stayed as close as it was in part because Marion 9-for-20 shooting from the foul line. Hesston made 15 of 18.
Belleville-The second-seeded Buffaloes broke open a close game with a 20-9 third quarter that fueled a 68-42 win over Marion in the opening round of the Trojan Classic on Tuesday.
Belleville led 16-10 after one quarter, but still led only by six at intermission, 31-26.
Three 3-pointers by Belleville’s Brad Sells and one by teammate Brody Grove sparked their team’s 20-point surge in the third quarter while Marion struggled to score.
Nobody from Marion made it to double figures in scoring, but eight players contributed points. Jason Hett scored a team-high nine.
Belleville was led by Sells and Vance Carlson with 15 points each and Grove with 13.
Coming-The Warriors (4-7) will play Hillsboro (9-3) on Friday night in Marion in a Mid-Central Activities Association game.
