Victory eludes girls in final quarter

By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

What a difference a year makes.

Riding big games by Chase Stringer and Sam Zinn, the Marion boys’ basketball team erased the sting of last season’s 64-38 road loss to Council Grove by thumping the Braves 61-52 Thursday at the Sports and Aquatics Center.

Digging themselves an early 6-0 hole, the Warriors came roaring back on four consecutive buckets by Stringer and fast break hoop by Ziin, pulling to within 1 at 11-10. Stringer had a hand in the next two Marion scores, dishing one assist to Noah Dalrymple for a game-tying score and another to Zachary Stuchlik for a lead-grabbing trey, 15-12.

With the score knotted at 18 early in the second period, it was Zinn’s turn to go on a tear, hitting two inside buckets and a rainbow trey from the baseline to put Marion ahead 25-21. Scores by Stringer and Stuchlik gave the Warrirors a 31-21 lead at the half.

After the Braves had whittled the deficit to 42-37 at the end of the third quarter, it was time for the second act of Chase Stringer show. The 6’4” junior scored four consecutive baskets, including a crowd-jolting one-hand dunk.

A pair of Eli Hett free throws put Marion up by 13, 58-45, with just under 3 minutes to play, and a Zinn bucket and Evann Heidebrecht free throw closed the door on a 61-52 win.

In a game where his play without the ball also was stellar, Stringer canned 22 points to lead all scorers, and Zinn wasn’t far behind with 18.

Girls

Marion’s girls had something to prove after getting thumped by the Braves 61-32 last season, and up until the final 40 seconds, it looked as though they might get revenge.

Courtney Herzet popped a trey, Corrina Crabb dropped in basket, and Kourtney Hansen drove the length of the court for another in a quarter-ending 7-point run to put Marion ahead 15-12 at the end of one.

The Warriors trailed by 7 in the third quarter when two Crabb free throws and three consecutive Hansen baskets tied the game at 36 at the start of the fourth.

After falling behind 41-38, Alli Molleker scored on a strong drive from the free throw line, Corin Parmley hit a charity, and Crabb hit a tough layup to give the lead back to the Warriors 43-41 with about 4:30 remaining.

After a Hansen fast break basket put Marion ahead 48-46, the Braves’ Morgan Poole was fouled on a score and made the free throw to give Council Grove a 49-48 lead with :40 remaining.

Trailing 51-48 with :09 left, the Warriors had the ball and a chance to send the game to overtime with a 3-pointer, but a turnover at midcourt ended Marion’s hopes, as they lost 52-48.

Hansen scored 19 points to lead the Warriors, and Sam Richmond added 10.