The Marion boys got the upper hand over Remington, out-lasting a comeback attempt for a 47-35 win to advance to the finals of the Marion Classic and improve to 3-0. The win came after the girls (0-3) couldn’t hang onto a half-time lead and fell to the Broncos, 45-34. The boys are slated to play tomorrow (Saturday) at 7:30 against the winner of Pool 1, while the girls play the 0-2 team from Pool 1 at 12 p.m.
Boys – Both teams fought for the early advantage in mostly defensive battle the first few minutes of the game. But Marion took the edge when Jacob Harper scored to tie it with four minutes left, followed by two more buckets from Harper off Jordan Hett assists. Hett closed out the first period with a three-pointer to make it 11-6, Warriors.
Ethan Hett drained a perimeter bucket to start the second quarter, then hit another three-pointer at 3:53 to make it 19-12. Jordan Hett scored consecutive baskets off steals to finish a seven point scoring streak at the end of the half.
The Warriors struggled to score coming out of the locker room, letting the Broncos chip away Marion’s double-digit lead in the third period despite Jordan Hett’s seven points, including a three-pointer.
But Marion held strong for the final period, with Jordan Hett scoring eight points and Harper and Taylor Heidebrecht adding five and four points, respectively, to stall the Broncos’ comeback hopes and seal the 12-point win.
Jordan Hett finished the night with 26 points, followed by Harper with 11 points and five rebounds. Ethan Hett registered six points from three-point range and led on defense with six rebounds.
Girls – The Warriors jumped out to the lead over the Broncos, thanks to the post efforts of Kaelyn Thierolf in the paint and guard Kelli Hess.
Remington rallied from a double-digit deficit as the second quarter went on, but a late three-pointer fron Hess helped give Marion a 20-15 lead at the half.
But it wouldn’t last. Remington got consecutive baskets to begin the half, sparking a back-and-forth battle. The Broncos packed the lane to shut down Thierolf’s scoring, then with 3:37 left the Broncos took a 26-24 lead.
Despite a three-pointer from Katey Ehrlich to end the third period, Marion trailed, 32-27. Erin Meierhoff scored off a steal to start the final period, but Remington outscored Marion, 13-7, for the final score of 45-34.
Hess and Thierolf led the Warrior attack with nine and eight points, respectively. Ehrlich, Meierhoff and Megan Richmond each added five points, with Richmond leading defensively with six boards. Ehrlich, Meierhoff, Richmond and Hess each had a basket from three-point range.
