Staff writer
The Marion High School boys basketball team lost 52-40 to Hutchinson Trinity Friday in Marion.
The Warriors were leading the game, 16-13, with 3 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter, after scoring drives by Jacob Harper and Jordan Versch. Trinity guard Derek Racette answered with a 3-pointer to tie the contest, and on the next Trinity possession, Holden Thielen knocked down both free throws.
“We started the game with a good mindset,” coach Jeff McMillin said. “They fought real hard.”
Colin Eurit grabbed an offensive board and scored a put-back layup to conclude the scoring in the quarter. At halftime the Warriors were down 20-18.
“Everybody did a great job tonight of not letting the other team speed us up,” McMillin said.
The game quickly unraveled for the Warriors in the third quarter. Racette started the scoring in the quarter with a 3-pointer. He then knocked down a 2-point jump shot.
Trinity guard Caleb Brenning transformed a Warrior turnover into a layup and he knocked down the free throw after a Marion foul.
Dillon Richmond answered with two baskets of his own. He scored a layup after a blocked Warrior shot and nailed a 3-pointer.
The Warriors would not score again in the quarter. The Celtics’ full-court pressure defense culminated to force the Warriors to commit turnovers. Marion committed 18 turnovers for the game; Trinity recorded 12 steals.
“They try to wear you down,” McMillin said. “They’ll probably be the No. 1 team in 3A after this week.”
Racette scored 12 of his game-high 25 points in the third quarter to give the Celtics a 16-5 advantage for the period.
“I might go to their graduation and wish them farewell,” McMillin said of Racette and the Trinity seniors, glad that he will no longer have to play against them.
The Warriors started the game in a 2-3 zone defense but eventually reverted to man-to-man after Racette started to knock down outside jump shots.
“Their man offense is pretty potent,” McMillin said. “Our defense wasn’t bad. Zone kept us in the game.”
Led by 12 points by Richmond and 10 points by Jordan Hett for the game, the Warriors scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to bring the score within 12.
“We made a comeback and it wasn’t against their subs,” McMillin said.
In two bright spots for Marion, the Warriors outrebounded Trinity, 32-27, with guard Versch pulling down 12 boards and Eurit recording 7 rebounds.
Although they had 13 fewer attempts, the Warriors shot a half percent better than Trinity from the field — 40.5 to 40.
“I can’t fault kids for what they did tonight,” McMillin said. “They’re upset in the locker room. (The Celtics) were just better than us tonight.”
The Warriors play in the Cougar Classic this week at Centre.