The Marion girls’ basketball team earned its first Heart of America league win of the season by defeating Ell-Saline Friday, 45-25.
The Cardinals scored the game’s first points at the charity stripe, but Marion ended the first quarter on a 12-0 run to lead, 12-2.
Chloe Burkholder drained her second three-pointer of the night in the second quarter, and Marion extended its lead to 24-6 by halftime. Burkholder drained a third trey early in the third quarter, but Ell-Saline rallied, outscoring Marion, 12-5, to close the gap to 29-18 by the end of the third quarter. A 16-7 Warrior effort, however, fueled by 10 points from Jayden May, sealed Marion’s 20-point victory.
“Defensively, in the first half, I was really pleased with our intensity,” coach Kelly Robson said. “Second half, our passing for easy buckets for a partner showed real unselfishness, and I really liked that.
“Tonight, we had a feeling that if we’d play well, we could win this one. And they did play well.”
May led all scorers with 16 points, including three three-pointers, two of which came in the fourth quarter. Burkholder scored 11, also draining three treys.
Coming—Marion (1-6, 3-14) was scheduled to host Remington Tuesday and will host Elyria Christian Friday.
