Marion boys begin 2016 with two league victories

Tyler Zinn shoots for two during the first quarter at Hutchinson Trinity Friday. Zinn made a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer and led all scorers with 37 points in Marion?s 64-62 victory.In a game that came down to the final seconds, the Marion boys? basketball team earned a 64-62 victory over Hutchinson Trinity with a last-second three-pointer by Tyler Zinn.

A big third-quarter effort, in which the Warriors scored more points (26) than they did in the first half, righted the ship after a tepid first two quarters. Marion made two field goals in the first eight minutes and trailed by as many as 14.

For as thrilling as the game ended, it began in a different fashion. Trinity built a 7-0 lead before Nicholas Stuchlik scored halfway through the period.

The Celtics increased their lead to 13-2 before Dylan Pippin chipped in two free-throws. Stuchlik scored as time expired, giving Trinity a 17-6 lead.

Zinn and Stuchlik contributed to a 9-2 Warrior rally, but Trinity responded with an 8-0 run to stretch the lead to 27-15 and led by as many as 30-16 before Marion closed the half with a 6-0 run to bring the score to 30-22.

?If we wanted to have any chance of being able to win the game, we could not let (Hutch Trinity) outplay us,? coach Jeff McMillin said. ?If we made the hard work aspect of it even, then we thought we had a pretty good chance, and that?s what we did in the second half.?

Jack Schneider caught fire after halftime, scoring nine points in about three minutes? time. Zinn made a pair of threes during what became a 15-1 run that put Marion in front, 37-31. The third quarter ended with Marion in front, 48-41.

After eight points from Zinn, Marion led, 58-53, but Marion later turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions, allowing Trinity to tie the game at 59 with 49 seconds to play.

Zinn scored to put Marion up by two, 61-59, but the Celtics made a go-ahead three-pointer with five seconds left. With one second put back on the clock after McMillin called timeout, Zinn received the inbounds pass from Schneider and banked in the winning three-pointer.

?Tyler caught it, and I knew if we could get the ball in his hands with one second, we had a good shot at making it,? McMillin said. ?That?s how it went down.?

Zinn led all scorers with 37 points.

Canton-Galva?Marion received a shot in the arm with the addition of Olathe South transfer Tyler Zinn, who made his debut in a Warrior jersey Tuesday at Canton-Galva.

Eligible to play beginning in January, the 6-foot, 1-inch senior guard contributed 29 points in three quarters to give the Warriors the spark they needed en-route to a 67-51 victory.

Zinn?s presence lit a fire under the Warriors, sparking Marion?s best offensive production of season. Marion came into the contest averaging about 38 points per game.

?(Tyler) definitely brings a spark,? coach Jeff McMillin said. ?We still have some jagged edges that we?re trying to smooth out, but I think as soon as we get to feeling comfortable with each other on the court, then I think it?s going to be a very positive thing.?

Canton-Galva took an early lead thanks to baskets by Ethan Loyd and Hunter Pearson.

With Marion trailing, 6-2, Jack Schneider and Zinn drained back-to-back threes. Nicholas Stuchlik capped the 8-0 run with a basket to put Marion in front, 10-6.

Travis Unruh scored the Eagles? next six points, while Zinn contributed five for Marion. Reed Wiens made a three to tie the game at 15, and the first quarter ended with the teams locked at 17.

Clayton Sargent and Unruh contributed to a 6-0 Eagle run that put Canton-Galva in front, 25-19. The Eagles held the lead the duration of the half.

Zinn accounted for eight of Marion?s nine points the rest of the half, bringing the halftime score to 31-28 in favor of Canton-Galva.

Marion embarked on an 11-0 run after intermission. Dylan Pippin scored six points, including a basket to put Marion in front, 39-31. Evann Heidebrecht later made a three- and two-point basket to give Marion its first double-digit lead, 44-34. The third quarter ended with Marion in front, 49-41.

Marion started the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run and held its largest lead, 63-43, when Mason Pedersen drained a three. McMillin cleared his bench en-route to the 16-point win.

?I expected that we would be much different,? McMillin said. ?Beyond that, I didn?t know.

?We?ve been doing a lot better job in practice, talking about getting more fluid in our offense. With or without Tyler, we would?ve been better this second semester offensively.?

Zinn led all scorers with 29 points. Dylan Pippin added 11, and Nicholas Stuchlik 10. Unruh led Canton-Galva with 20 points. Reed Wiens added 12.

Coming?Marion (3-4) was scheduled to host Berean Academy Tuesday. The Warriors will host Inman Friday.

Tags from the story
Written By
More from Janae Rempel
Rule changes in effect for NAIA women?s basketball
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel has adopted a number of rule...
Read More