Staff writer
The Marion High School Lady Warriors are still searching for their first win of the season after a loss Friday to Trinity Catholic of Hutchinson, 51-35, in Hutchinson.
Marion was looking to avenge a season-opening 2-point loss to the Lady Celtics, and the Lady Warriors got off to a promising start. Katie Ehrlich, Kaelyn Thierolf, Kelli Hess, and Whitney Gordon all got into the scoring column in the first three minutes of the game, as Marion quickly built an 8-4 lead.
Gordon kept the Lady Warriors rolling as she dished an assist to Ehrlich for a baseline basket, then scored two more herself. Erin Meirhoff scored at the two-minute mark of the first quarter to give Marion a 14-7 advantage, and Corey Shields hit a follow-shot for a 16-10 lead at the end of the period.
Shields scored again to open the second quarter, giving Marion their largest lead, 18-10.
At that point, the Lady Warrior offense became stagnant and turnovers mounted as Trinity Catholic turned up the defensive pressure. The Lady Celtics went on an 18-4 run the rest of the quarter, carrying a 28-22 lead into halftime.
Gordon scored from 3-point range at 5:18 in the third, but Trinity Catholic scored 9 consecutive points before Lady Warrior Megan Richmond halted the run by banking home a 3-point shot at :48, with Marion trailing 28-39.
Marion cut the lead to 9 points, 30-39, on a Meierhoff basket to open the fourth quarter. The Lady Warriors got no closer, as Trinity Catholic scored the next 7 points and coasted to a 51-35 win.
Gordon led Marion scorers with 11 points, followed by Meierhoff with 6, and Thierolf with 5.
Cougar Classic
The Lady Warriors got off to a rough start Tuesday in the Cougar Classic tournament at Centre, dropping their first-round contest against Hope, 45-26.
Marion will continue Cougar Classic play Friday and Saturday.