Marion boys lose sub-state bid to Hillsboro
Warriors lose to number two ranked team in the state
The Marion Warriors ended their basketball season Friday losing to eventual sub-state winner Hillsboro, 41-52.
"Our guys have no reason to feel bad," said Rex Ostmeyer, Marion High School boys coach. "We gave one of the top ranked teams in the state a bit of a run."
Meeting inter-county rival Hillsboro for the third time this season, the Warriors knew they would have to accomplish four goals in order to win, Ostmeyer said.
For one, Marion would have to control the game's tempo; two, not give away any easy baskets; three, control Hillsboro's top player; and fourth, find one Marion player to have a big offensive game.
"We controlled the tempo and kept them to 52 points," Ostmeyer said. "We knew if it was a fast-paced game we'd lose."
Although the Warriors limited the number of baskets they "gave away," a few slipped past them, and they turned over the ball 22 times. The Marion boys also did a pretty good job of containing the Trojans top player, although another Hillsboro team member stepped up to score 21 points.
"We took care of all our goals except the last one," Ostmeyer said. "We didn't get anybody to step up offensively. We didn't have a good offensive game."
Overall, the Warriors executed well, and were still in the game at the half.
"Hillsboro is the number two ranked team in the state," Ostmeyer said. "We played hard and have nothing to be ashamed of."
The Warriors finish the 2002-03 season tied for second place in the Cottonwood Valley League with an 11-11 record. Considering the high level of competition, Ostmeyer said the team has reason to be proud of its accomplishments this season.
"Seven of our 11 losses were to teams that are competing in the state tournament," Ostmeyer said. "The worst record of any team we lost to was 16-6. Everyone we lost to was a legitimate team. There were no scrounges."
The Warriors will lose seven seniors this year to graduation and will return eight juniors next year.
"We'll be a different team and the dynamic will be different, but we've got some pretty good players," Ostmeyer said.
marion - 41, hillsboro - 52
Marion 9 10 6 16 — 41
Hillsboro 11 13 15 13 — 52
Total points — Brian Bina, 12; Mitch Enos, 4; Jared Hett, 5; Eric Smith, 2; Tyler Stubenhofer, 2; Joel Versch, 7; Alan Vogel, 9.
Rebounds — Bina, 4; Chamberland, 1; Enos, 1; Matt Rhodes, 1; Smith, 1; Stubenhofer, 3; Versch, 3; Vogel, 7.
Steals — Hett, 1; Rhodes, 1; Smith, 1; Versch, 1.
Assists — Bina, 2; Enos, 1; Stubenhofer, 3.
Fouls — Bina, 3; Chamberland, 1; Hett, 2; Rhodes, 1; Smith, 1; Stubenhofer, 2; Versch, 2; Vogel, 4.
