Lady Warriors fall in double OT
Staff writer
A slow start turned to a longer ending for the Marion girls Tuesday night against Berean Academy.
The Lady Warriors trailed 17-12 at halftime, but raised the defensive pressure in the second half to keep the score within one possession.
Marion scored seven unanswered points to begin the third quarter, started on a 3-pointer from Kirsten Hansen.
With 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in the quarter, Berean’s Carrie Unruh tied the game at 19, starting a 6-0 run that gave Berean a 23-21 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter would go much like the third ended, Berean taking a small lead and Marion answering with points of its own.
Up 27-25 with less than a minute in the game, Berean missed two free throws, giving Marion a chance at the final shot.
Marion missed its initial attempt, but a tie ball kept the ball in Marion’s possession. After a timeout, Kaelyn Thierolf missed a shot, but Katey Ehrlich caught the rebound and laid the ball into the basket as time expired.
The first overtime period was a defensive struggle. Megan Richmond made a layup to begin the period, but Marion was unable to score again while two late Berean free throws kept the game tied.
Berean was the first to score in the second overtime period, but a three from Kelli Hess gave Marion the lead again.
Berean re-took the lead with two free throws, but Hansen answered with a jump shot with 47 seconds left. Marion led 34-33.
Two more Berean free throws closed out the game though, and Marion lost 35-34.