Warriors lose Berean rematch
Staff writer
When the Marion boys played Berean early in basketball season, they fell behind early but came back to win 44-42. The second meeting between the teams began the same, but ended differently.
Marion scored first after Tim Knolla drove the lane for a layup, but Marion did not score again until Berean had scored nine of its own. Marion fought back trailing 12-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Berean ran away with the lead in the second quarter, outscoring Marion 13-5 to take a 25-13 lead into halftime.
Marion chipped at the lead in the third quarter, coming within six twice. The Warriors could not get closer than that though, trailing 36-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Berean continued to build its lead in the fourth, leading by as much as 18. Marion eventually lost 54-39.
Outlast Bulldogs at Bennington
Playing with increased focus and intensity, Marion rebounded from a disappointing loss Jan. 7 to Moundridge to defeat Bennington 46-37 Friday night.
“We’ve been doing things well but not competing,” coach Jeff McMillin said. “But I think tonight we competed, but it was pretty sloppy in a lot of areas.”
Marion outscored the Bulldogs 12-5 in the first quarter and never looked back. By halftime, the Warriors led 31-13.
Bennington began chipping at the lead in the third quarter, attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line. The Bulldogs trimmed the lead to less than 10 toward the end of the fourth quarter, but the Warriors hung on.
McMillin said it would be important moving forward for the team to continue playing with the same intensity.
“It’s easy when you’re embarrassed a little bit or when you’re hurting to say ‘I’m changing.’ It’s like a New Year’s resolution,” he said. “Everybody keeps their resolution on January 1st, but only the successful ones keep it on the 2nd, the 3rd, and June, July, September, and October.”
Scoring
Timothy Knolla, 6; James Jones, 6; Zach Robson, 12; Brett Voth, 5; Grif Case, 10; Taylor Heidebrecht, 7.