ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AO
On Friday night, the Marion Warriors welcomed basketball teams from Lyons to town.
The boys team pounded the Lions into submission with a 31-5 third quarter after a lackluster first half left the home team trailing 24-12.
Marion went on to win by a final score of 61-45.
The only member of the Lions who had any measure of success against the Warriors was Brennan Clark, who powered the visitors to their halftime lead with nine points in the first two quarters and finished with 17 for the game.
Travis Hett opened the frenetic third frame with a steal-and-score layup, and Marion never trailed after Hett buried a 3-pointer with 3:39 to go.
Emmanuel Jackson gave the Warriors the lead they did not lose with a 3-point play at 2:49.
After Jackson buried the free throw, the score was 30-27, Marion.
The Warriors put together a 13-2 run and routed their opposition as completely as one basketball team can rout another over the next 2:49.
Lyons closed the gap to seven twice in the final quarter, but never made it a two-possession game.
Hett finished with 16 and Jackson had 14 in the winning effort.
The MHS girls played the Lions to a 46-46 tie with 0:29 left in the game, but lost 50-46.
Marion trailed 44-41 with 1:16 to go after hard foul sent Lyons senior Damara Lewis to the line with a chance to add to the visitors’ advantage.
Lewis made one of two foul shots, and the Lions led by three.
But on the ensuing possession, Lewis fouled Julia Zeiner-a 5’7 freshman whose impact on the game was massive-who brought the Warriors within two.
Zeiner evened the score with a pair of free throws with 0:52 to go.
Nikki Kratzer, who finished with a game-high 25 points, broke the 44-all tie with a pair of free throws at 0:47.
Zeiner knotted it at 46 with a six-footer off a sharp pass from Kalaya Jackson.
But Marion’s full-court press coverage broke down on the next play, and left Lewis wide open with the ball in the lane.
Lewis did not miss, and Marion did not score in the final 0:20.
Zeiner was the only Warrior in double-figures, but scored 20 points in 32 minutes of action.
MHS teams split with Lyons
