Sacred Heart defeats Warriors in seesaw game
It was a battle all the way, but the Marion High Schools boys basketball team came out on the down side Tuesday when they lost to league rival Sacred Heart, 53-57.
"It was a very good ball game," said head coach Rex Ostmeyer. "Even their coach said we played hard."
The two teams teetered back and forth throughout. Marion led by five at the end of the first quarter, but Sacred Heart led by three at the half. At the end of the third, only one point separated the two teams.
Unfortunately, a couple crucial turnovers in the last three to four minutes of the game moved the victory outside Marion's grasp. But yet, the boys didn't give up.
"We were behind seven points with one minute, 20 seconds to go and people started heading for the gates," Ostmeyer said. "But Jared Hett came up with a big play late in the game."
Hett got a steal, made a lay-up, and hit a three point shot to cut Sacred Heart's lead within two. However, the Knights scored four in the final 25 seconds as the Warriors tried to foul to "get back into the game.
"Free throws made the difference," Ostmeyer said. "In the fourth quarter they made 11 out of 20 free throws."
Jason Matz got in foul trouble early which kept him from scoring and out of the game most of the night. Brian Bina, Tyler Stubenhofer, and Alan Vogel each gave solid performances, Ostmeyer said.
"It's rather frustrating because Alan and Jason are our two big men and one or the other is always in foul trouble," Ostmeyer said. "We have to overcome that so they can play the majority of the game together."
The loss places the Warriors record at 2-1 in Cottonwood Valley League action, and 2-5 overall.
"Sacred Heart is a very good team. They were undefeated going in and now they're 3-0 in the league and 5-0 overall," Ostmeyer said.
The squad then prepared to meet league foe Herington Friday, which is also undefeated in league play.
"There's a little bit of a rivalry there, just because of the two town's proximity and they've got a good group," Ostmeyer said. "But if we play well, we'll have a chance to win."
Marion - 53, Sacred heart - 57
Marion 14 8 13 18 — 53
Sacred Heart 9 16 11 21 — 57
Total points — Brian Bina, 8; Mitch Enos, 6; Jared Hett, 12; Matt Rhodes, 1; Eric Smith, 5; Tyler Stubenhofer, 3; Joel Versch, 4; Alan Vogel, 14.
Total rebounds — Bina, 2; Clayton Chamberland, 1; Enos, 1; Hett, 1; Matz, 2; Rhodes, 1; Smith, 3; Stubenhofer, 3; Versch, 2; Vogel, 10.
Steals — Hett, 1; Rhodes, 2; Smith, 1; Stubenhofer, 1.
Assists — Bina, 4; Enos, 2; Rhodes, 2; Stubenhofer, 2; Versch, 2.
