Staff writer
The Warriors led 39-36 at the beginning of the fourth quarter against Moundridge Friday at Moundridge.
A three-play turnaround changed that. Still down three, Moundridge center — Austin Neufled — lined up a 3-point shot. The bulking center, hardly an obvious threat from the outside, hit the shot to tie the game.
On the next possession, Wil Case tried to shoot a jump shot from the right side elbow. His shot was blocked by Joel Sugars and recovered by the Moundridge defense. The Wildcats started a fast break that led to a layup and a Warrior foul. The Moundridge player made the free throw and the Warriors were now facing a three-point deficit.
With the crowd energized, the Warriors collapsed under the mounting pressure and momentum. Moundridge started to trap Marion players along the baseline. Several Warriors tried to throw passes that went over the head of the Marion guard standing at the top of the key.
Moundridge soon built an insurmountable lead and won, 55-46. The Wildcats outscored the Warriors, 19-7, in the fourth quarter.
“We just have to learn how to win,” Marion head coach Jeff McMillin said. “We’ve been in every game so far. We had a shot against a team that hasn’t lost a game this year.”
Eric Vogel and Case were both bright spots in the loss. Vogel scored 18 points and shot 8-for-15 from the field. Case scored 17 points including three 3-pointers.
Case was a versatile offensive option against Moundridge, scoring on drives and jump shots. He has scored at least nine points in his last three games.
“He stepped up,” McMillin said.” He’s one who has improved. He can score. He’s worked hard on defense and on rebounding.”
In the end, the Warriors were unable to overcome great efforts from Moundridge’s Trey Unrau and Neufeld. Unrau scored 29 points, 10 of which came from the free-throw line. Neufeld scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Warriors out-rebounded Moundridge 29 to 26, shot the same percentage — 42 percent from the field — but committed six more turnovers.