Three losses drop Warriors to 8th in league standings
Sports reporter
It was a tough week to say the least for the Marion High School boys' basketball team.
Losses to Mid-Central Activities Association foes Halstead, Haven, and Hesston dropped the Warriors to 3-7 in the MCAA and 7-12 overall.
On the bright side for MHS, each game the Warriors played a little better.
On Feb. 15 Marion played host to Halstead, only to lose 50-24. Eight points was the highest output in any quarter for the Warriors.
Friday they traveled to Haven where the offense played better, but not well enough in a 68-48 loss to a Wildcat team they had already beaten once this season.
Saturday the Warriors played at home against a clutch Hesston team. It was the best game of the week for the Warriors, but they lost 65-60.
Head coach Rex Ostmeyer was happy with his team's better showing, but obviously still disappointed.
"We had some untimely turnovers," he said. "And Hesston hit some big shots."
The biggest shot came from Grady Pauls with just under three minutes to go.
After Warrior senior Adam Heerey hit his fourth three-pointer of the night to cut the lead to 56-50, Pauls answered with a three of his own in the corner to up the lead to nine.
Senior Dale Vogel led Marion with 14 points and six rebounds.
Three other Warriors scored in double figures: Jason Hett 13, Heerey 12, and Travis Hett 11.
Heerey connected on 4-of-5 three point attempts.
Against Halstead Vogel led Marion again with eight points and 10 rebounds. Jason Hett also scored eight.
Vogel was leading scorer Friday night at Haven with 13 points and seven rebounds. Heerey added seven points, and Josh Kelsey had five points and four assists.
Marion hosted Sterling last night for the final regular season game of the year. It also was senior night.
The Warriors begin sub-state play Tuesday with a 0-0 record.
"The season starts over again," Ostmeyer said. "Anything can happen, we just need to put together a good week of basketball."
Junior varsity
The Marion Warrior junior varsity boys' basketball team won both its games this past week.
In the Feb. 15 game against Halstead three juniors led the way for the Warriors. Jeff Richmond scored a team-high 13 points, Russell Ploutz added 12, and Jeremy Vondenkamp had 10 in the 56-48 victory.
Friday, the Warriors knocked off Haven 56-41. Trailing 30-20 at the half, Marion out-scored Haven 36-11 to claim the victory. Freshman Calvin Jeffrey scored 23 points, including four three-pointers. Junior Josh Kelsey had 11 points, and Vondenkamp chipped in with eight.
The two victories give the Warriors a 13-5 record. They finished their season Tuesday when they played host to the Sterling Black Bears.
