Marion splits games at Inman

The Marion basketball teams split two road games at Inman Friday. The girls defeated the Teutons, 34-25. The boys lost a highly-contested game by one, 43-42.Erika Hess makes a basket to give Marion its first lead, 5-4, at Inman Friday. Marion won, 34-25.

Girls?Despite trailing at the start, Marion gained the lead by the end of the first quarter and never relinquished it en-route to a nine-point victory.

Inman took a 4-1 lead out of the gate, but with back-to-back baskets, Erika Hess ignited an 8-0 run that put Marion in front. After a Teuton score, Kourtney Hansen closed the first quarter with a string of four points to give Marion a 13-6 lead.

The Warriors built their lead to 22-10 by the time Kirsten Hansen scored at the 3:19 mark, but after that, the Teutons burst with nine straight points, closing the gap to three with 1:15 left in the half. Kourtney Hansen scored the half?s final basket to boost Marion?s lead to 24-19 at intermission.

Marion outscored Inman, 6-5, in the third quarter, thanks to baskets by Kirsten Hansen and Bailey Robson, giving Marion a 30-24 edge heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, neither team scored for more than five minutes. Julia Hall scored the quarter?s first points with 2:20 to play, and Kourtney Hansen extended Marion?s lead to 34-24 with a score with 50 seconds left. Inman scored its only point of the quarter from the charity stripe, bringing the final margin to nine.Jacob Baldwin shoots for two during the fourth quarter at Inman. Baldwin completed a three-point play to bring Marion within 36-35 with 6:19 to play.

Boys?It was a game that could have easily swung in favor of either team, but when the final buzzer sounded, it was Inman who held the one-point advantage on the scoreboard.

Marion struggled to get any shots to fall at the start, allowing Inman to build a 6-0 lead. Jacob Baldwin put Marion on the board with a free throw with 1:36 left in the opening quarter, and Peyton Heidebrecht drained a three with 21 seconds left to close the gap to 6-4 by the first break.

The Warriors outscored the Teutons 17-14 in the second quarter. Mason Pedersen scored eight points in the quarter, aided by two threes. Bret Voth added six points and Heidebrecht three upon draining his second trey of the night. The Warriors held a 21-20 lead at halftime.

The teams traded blow for blow in the third quarter. With each Warrior score, Inman had an answer. There were four ties in the period, including at the end, as the teams entered the fourth quarter locked at 31.

With eight minutes to decide the victor, Inman claimed a four-point, 36-32, lead less than one minute in as Walker Strange sandwiched a Heidebrecht free-throw with a basket and traditional three-point play. Baldwin responded with a three-point play for Marion that cut the deficit to one, and the teams traded scores.

Marion trailed, 41-37, with 4:03 left in the game. Pedersen chipped in a pair of free throws to bring Marion within 41-39 at 2:26. After an Inman miss, Marion called timeout. Marion?s first shot missed its mark, but the Warriors grabbed the rebound only to turn the ball over on a lane violation.

The Teutons missed a one-and-one opportunity with 34 seconds left, but Marion?s next shot also missed its mark. The Warriors sent Keaton Case to the line with 17.1 seconds left, where he made two free throws, extending Inman?s lead to 43-39.

Marion called timeout with 10.5 seconds remaining, then Pedersen drained a three to bring Marion within 43-42 with just 7.5 to go. Case missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Marion again called timeout with just 2.4 on the clock. Needing to travel the length of the floor, the Warriors threw a deep inbounds pass to Pedersen who launched one final shot at the buzzer, but the attempt missed its mark.

Coming?Marion will compete in the Cougar Classic at Centre next week beginning on Tuesday. The Marion girls are the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 Wakefield Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Warrior boys are the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 Solomon at 5:30 p.m.

For scores and updates during games, follow Janae on Twitter @janaerem13

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