Both Marion basketball teams dropped games to Moundridge Tuesday at home. The Warrior girls fell, 46-26, while the boys lost by seven, 56-49.
GIRLS?Facing a stingy Wildcat defense, Marion struggled to put points on the board in its 46-26 loss to Moundridge Tuesday night.
With Marion plagued by turnovers in the opening quarter, Moundridge surged to an 11-0 lead by the end of the period.
Kaelyn Thierolf got Marion on the scoreboard with a basket to start second-quarter scoring, and a Kelli Hess three-pointer brought Marion within 13-5 with 2:58 left before halftime. Katey Ehrlich scored 39 seconds later, but Marion trailed 22-7 at halftime.
The Warriors increased their offensive production in the third quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 13-10. Marion nailed down two three-point baskets?one each from Hess and Bailey Robson. Robson concluded third-quarter scoring with a basket off a turnover for a 32-20 margin heading into the final period.
Moundridge opened the fourth quarter with a three and pulled ahead to lead, 40-20 with 4:12 left in the game. Robson scored with 3:22 left, but Moundridge?s lead hovered around 20 points the duration of the game.
Hess led Marion with eight points. 
BOYS?It took three quarters before Marion found any rhythm Tuesday against Moundridge. Trailing 43-21 heading into the final quarter of play, the Warriors came to life, scoring more points in the fourth quarter than they had in the previous three combined. But despite outscoring the Wildcats 28-13 in the fourth quarter, the effort was too little, too late, and Moundridge held on for the win, 56-49.
Chilly Warrior shooting to start the game contributed to an 8-0 Moundridge surge before Taylor Heidebrecht scored off a steal at the 4:42 mark to put Marion on the board. Zach Robson scored two minutes later, and Heidebrecht drained a three with less than a minute left in the opening quarter, but Marion trailed 14-7 at the end of one.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 10 with a three-pointer to open the second quarter and maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the half for a 27-14 halftime advantage. Heidebrecht and Robson accounted for all 14 of Marion?s first-quarter points.
Things went from bad to worse in the third quarter as Moundridge outscored Marion 14-2 in the first 5:08 to claim its biggest lead of the night, 41-16. The Warriors answered with five straight points courtesy of Grif Case and Jacob Baldwin, but Moundridge led, 43-21, heading into the final quarter.
Timothy Knolla scored Marion?s first eight points of the quarter, including a three-pointer to bring Marion within 45-29 with 5:05 to go.
With the Warriors showing increased intensity, James Jones scored two consecutive baskets sandwiching a steal by Robson. After a second Moundridge turnover, Heidebrecht was fouled and made two free throws. Just 14 seconds later, Heidebrecht drained a three-pointer after yet another Robson steal. Suddenly, Marion was within 47-38 with 2:28 left in the game.
Grif Case grabbed a Wildcat inbounds pass that led to a three by Robson to bring Marion within 50-43 with 1:23 remaining. The Warriors narrowed the gap even more when Heidebrecht made a basket with 30 seconds left for a 53-47 score.
Moundridge battled from the charity stripe, and Jones made the Warriors? final basket with 12 seconds remaining to bring Marion within five, 54-49. But after two final free throws, Moundridge led by seven when time expired.
Heidebrecht led Marion with 18 points. Robson and Knolla added 10 apiece.
COMING?Marion will play at Bennington Friday.
