For the second game in a row, the Marion girls’ basketball team jumped to a commanding lead on the way to a 70-52 victory at Sterling Tuesday night.
Sparked by nine straight points on three consecutive 3-pointers from Kayley Heery, the Warriors started with a five-minute, 24-3 spurt. Sterling had difficulties inbounding the ball against the Marion press.
During one stretch in the first quarter, Marion stole Black Bear possessions on four consecutive inbounds plays. Taking advantage of the turnovers under Sterling?s basket, Marion scored three layups for six points.
The run ended when Sterling scored eight unanswered points to end the first quarter 27-11. Each team scored 11 points in the second quarter to go into halftime 38-22.
To open the second half, Marion jumped to 54-26 lead with a 16-4 run. During the run, Lindsay Hett pulled up and knocked down a 3-pointer with a Black Bear defender in her face. Julia Zeiner also knocked down a 3 from the wing in transition.
Marion ended the third quarter with a 59-35 advantage and was not challenged by Sterling in the fourth quarter.
Zeiner led all scorers with 21. Hett finished with 13 points, seven steals and five rebounds. Heerey scored 15 points and converted on 4-of-7 three points attempts. Whitney Gordon contributed 11 points, five rebounds.
For the Black Bears, Heather Davis scored 15 and Hannah Enfield had 10.
Marion improves to 6-1 in MCAA play and 12-2 on the season.
MARION BOYS
Currently on a four-game losing streak, Marion fell to Sterling 58-44 Tuesday night.
The Warriors hung with the Black Bears until halfway through the third quarter. Leading 33-26 after a Matt Foster layup and free throw, Sterling finished the third quarter on an 8-3 run. The last three points came courtesy of Bryant Patterson’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer to end the quarter 46-29.
Foster?s 3 proved to be the backbreaker as Marion was unable to move to within single digits again. At one point in the fourth quarter, Sterling led 53-35.
Patterson was the only Black Bear in double figures, finishing with 18. Austin Maxwell was 4-for-4 form the field and scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Isaac Hett and Eric Vogel led the way for the Warriors with 12 points each. Hett also had seven steals. Wil Case scored nine points and had three steals.
The Warriors drop to 2-5 in MCAA play and 5-10 overall.
Friday, Marion goes to Hesston.
