Warrior comeback falls short

By JOEL WRIGHT

Staff writer

Down 22 points to Moundridge heading into the fourth quarter, the Marion boys’ basketball team went on a feverish run Tuesday, coming within five points of the lead before time ran out.

Marion started the game sluggishly, giving up eight unanswered points before Taylor Heidebrecht made a layup halfway through the first quarter. The Warriors struggled to gain ground on the early deficit, going into the second period down 14-7.

Nothing improved for Marion in during the second and third quarters. Heidebrecht and Zach Robson were the only Warriors to score in the first half, each making seven while trailing 27-14 at halftime.

The Warriors scored seven points again in the third quarter, going to the fourth quarter down 22.

Marion began pressuring the Wildcats full-court in the final period, anticipating steals and converting Moundridge turnovers into points. The Warriors went on a 19-5 run in six minutes, to trail 48-40.

Marion continued to pursue the lead in the last 80 seconds of the game, trimming the lead to 54-49, but the Wildcats made enough late free throws to keep the lead and the win.

Scoring

Timothy Knolla, 10; T. Heidebrecht, 18; Z. Robson, 10; Grif Case, 3; James Jones, 6; Jacob Baldwin, 2.