Warriors clip Cardinals, improve to 1-0 in league
Sports reporter
The first half of the season must seem so "last year" to the Marion High School Warrior boys' basketball team.
2005 marked a 1-5 start, including disappointing offensive efforts from a team everyone knew could do better.
Fast forward to 2006.
Although it's just one game, so far the new year has made MHS look like a new team.
With their 71-50 romp of Hoisington Friday in front of a packed house, the Warriors improved their record to 2-5, but more importantly, 1-0 in the Mid-Central Activities Association.
Jason Hett led Marion with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, while Travis Hett added 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
"When we got back from Christmas we said we were going to play with more enthusiasm, we were going to play hard, and we were going to play together," head coach Rex Ostmeyer said. "I thought the biggest thing we did was play together."
MHS started with a spark early when it jumped ahead 6-2 on baskets from both Hetts and Russell Ploutz.
Hoisington fought back to tie the game at 13. Marion then scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 17-13 after one.
A seemingly close game erupted into a MHS blowout after the Warriors scored the first 11 points in the second frame. The 15-0 run gave Marion a 28-13 lead it would never relinquish.
Jason Hett had eight points during the run.
"He scored in a variety of ways and he got his teammates involved," Ostmeyer said.
After the Cardinals ended the Warrior run, Emmanuel Jackson nailed a three-pointer to increase the lead to 31-15. By halftime the Warriors looked to have the game in the bag, leading 35-18.
But after yielding just five points in the second quarter, the Warriors' defense broke down in the third, allowing 22 points.
Big men Cameron Horesky and Zac Stetler combined for 31 of the Cardinals' 50 points, most coming inside the paint.
"I was a little disappointed with our defense in the second half," Ostmeyer said. "We have to figure out how to play better than that inside."
It didn't affect MHS too much because the offense netted 23 points, extending the lead to 58-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ploutz scored six of his season-high 12 points during the quarter. He also grabbed five rebounds in the game.
"Russell was phenomenal," Ostmeyer said. "He just needs the confidence to know he can."
Neither team scored much in the fourth quarter, and Hoisington never even scratched the surface at making a comeback, as the Warriors claimed the 21-point victory.
Behind the top-three scorers, were Jackson with seven points, Josh Kelsey four, Calvin Jeffrey three, Jeff Richmond two, Jeremy Vondenkamp two, and David DeForest one.
As a team Marion shot 52.7 percent from the field, by far its best of the season, and 6-9 from behind the arc.
"When you get shots in rhythm they go in, and that was the difference," Ostmeyer said.
Travis Hett hit four of the Warriors three-pointers in just five attempts.
"When Travis is in rhythm he's not going to miss too many threes," Ostmeyer said. "He's too good of a shooter."
The Warriors took their hot shooting to Wichita Tuesday to take on Collegiate. They will be back home Friday to host the Ellinwood Eagles.
