Staff writer
Friday night, the outcome of the Marion boys’ game against Canton-Galva was never in doubt.
The Warriors jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game, leading 20-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Marion blew the game open in the second quarter on the strength of four 3-pointers by Zach Robson, three of which he made in a row. He made six threes in the team’s first meeting with the Eagles.
Robson finished with 19 points, and Grif Case, Timothy Knolla, and Taylor Heidebrecht also scored in double-digits.
Marion led 40-18 at halftime, stretching its lead to 30 during the fourth. By rule, the game clock ran through the fourth quarter and the Warriors won 65-43.
“Our focus tonight was a lot better,” coach Jeff McMillin said. “With a lot of the good teams we’ve played on our schedule, we felt we relaxed a little early this week.”
McMillin said Feb. 11 that teams that won against the Warriors were a combined 93-21, and Friday was a good win to put the team back over .500 at 9-8.
“They played on both ends of the floor, figured out the game plan to a tee, and really didn’t ease up much until the fourth quarter when we started putting some subs in that haven’t had a whole lot of experience,” he said.
Even though the team has now won three in a row, Friday was the team’s best execution during that stretch.
“By and large, I don’t have a whole lot to be critical of, except for where has it been for a large portion of the season,” McMillin said. “We needed to get above .500, and hopefully stay there.”
Scoring
Knolla, 19; Robson, 19; Case, 12; Heidebrecht, 11; Mason Pederson, 4; Brett Voth, 4; Jacob Baldwin, 2; Peyton Heidebrecht, 2.
Tuesday at Sedgwick
The Warriors faced a small deficit after a fast start, but pulled out a 10-point victory Tuesday against Sedgwick.
Marion held the Cardinals to five points in the first quarter, but was then held scoreless in the second, trailing 14-12 at halftime.
The Warriors retook the lead in the third quarter to lead 25-21 heading into the fourth. The boys extended their lead in the final quarter, defeating the Cardinals 40-30.