MHS girls post victory in final tourney game
Sports reporter
Marion High School girls' basketball team used a blowout victory Saturday in the Trojan Classic as momentum for the rest of the Mid — Central Activities Association season.
After dropping their first two tournament games by double-digits, the Warriors overcame a sluggish first quarter to defeat the Cair Paravel-Latin Lions, 56-36. The victory gave Marion a fifth-place finish in the six-team tournament.
Junior center Toni Gordon paced Marion with 16 points and four rebounds, playing her best game since before winter break.
"I'm really happy," head coach Daryl Enos said. "We ran our press pretty well, but obviously there's things to work on."
Enos said at times the girls looked sloppy on offense and when running the press, especially in the first quarter.
Trailing 7-6 late in the opening frame, senior Katie Zogelman took a pass from fellow senior Sarah Williams and nailed a 17-foot jumper to end a Cair-Paravel 5-0 run, and give Marion an 8-7 lead. Senior Amber Richmond added a bucket right before the buzzer, and Marion led 10-7.
The Warriors widened the margin in the second quarter, outscoring the Lions 20-7. Gordon scored eight points, while senior Leann Thomas added five.
Enos said he liked what Gordon was able to do in the post, and it was something that would have to continue for the Warriors to be successful.
Richmond, who entered the game averaging 2.7 points per contest, scored eight of her season-high 11 points in the second half, enabling Marion to stay out in front of the Lions.
