MMS Wildcats lose one, win one
Hager, Suffield, Jeffrey are top scorers
By ERIC CLARK
Sports editor
The Marion Middle School boys' basketball team fell to Wichita Independent and defeated Herington this past week at the Cottonwood Valley Junior League Tournament.
Despite Austin Hager's 21 points, the Wildcats got off to a slow start against Wichita Independent in their opening-round game and fell, 51-43. Falling behind 16-9 in the first quarter, the Wildcats couldn't scratch their way back into the game.
Marion's struggle to break down Independent's full-court press and their inability to take care of the basketball during key moments kept the team from closing the point margin to less than six points.
Hager's 21 points were complemented by Calvin Jeffrey's 10 in the Marion loss.
In their match-up against Herington, it appeared Marion dominated much of the action in the consolation game. The Wildcats were unable to shake the Herington team entirely, but eventually came away with a 47-45 win.
The two teams traded basket after basket in the game. After one quarter, Marion led 13-12; after the second quarter the game was tied at 20.
The Warriors were outscored in the third quarter, 10-9.
Herington's last-second attempt to tie the game at 47 as the buzzer sounded preserved the two-point win as Marion outscored their opponent 18-15 in the final period.
Bryce Suffield and Jeffrey had 18 and 11 points respectively in the victory.
