Warriors drop two of three at Inman tourney
Sports reporter
After winning their first game of the Inman Tournament Dec. 7, Marion Warriors boys' basketball team lost two close games Thursday and Friday at Inman.
In the first game of the tournament, Marion used a solid defense and a two-man attack to defeat Burrton 54-36, and improve to 2-0.
Senior Dale Vogel scored 22 points to go along with nine rebounds, and sophomore Jason Hett had 17 points and four rebounds in the victory.
For Vogel it was his second 20-point game of the season.
"He was strictly a role player last year," coach Rex Ostmeyer said of Vogel. "This year I knew he was going to have to score for us."
Not only has Vogel scored for Marion, he has crashed the boards as well.
The senior averaged eight rebounds per game during the tournament, to go along with his 14.3 points.
In the Burrton contest Hett shot six of 10, and took all of Marion's free throws, connecting on five of six.
After a close first half that saw the Warriors leading 23-21, Hett and Vogel made sure the game would turn ugly for Burrton.
The Warriors ran off 17 straight points with Hett and Vogel scoring 10 combined to up their lead to 40-21. Burrton would score the last five points of the quarter but it was too little too late.
A close fourth quarter didn't work in Burrton's favor as Marion claimed the 18-point victory.
"I wanted to amp up the pressure a little more," Ostmeyer said.
That's exactly what the Warriors did, forcing 23 turnovers in the game and allowing just four baskets in the second half.
As the tournament moved to Inman Thursday Marion fell short against St. John, 58-52. It was the second quarter that hurt Marion as they were outscored 22-9. Again Hett and Vogel did most of the scoring. Hett led Marion with 15 points and six rebounds, and Vogel finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
A poor first half plagued the Warriors Friday in their loss to the Inman Teutons. Marion found themselves frustrated and down 31-15 at the break, as Inman center Gavin Schmidt scored 13 points.
"We played just like we practice," Ostmeyer said. "Sometimes we are pretty decent and sometimes we are pretty bad."
While the first half was pretty bad, the second half was more than decent.
Marion scored 14 third quarter points after scoring just 15 in the first half, to cut the lead to 41-29. Senior guard Adam Heerey hit two pull-up jumpers in the last two minutes, and a coaching move by Ostmeyer paid off. He subbed in Hett after an Inman turnover with four seconds left in the quarter. Marion inbounded him the ball and he hit a three at the buzzer.
"We were making shots, and making free throws," Ostmeyer said. "And they almost started stalling."
In fact Inman had four possessions in the fourth quarter last more than 45 seconds. But Marion forced missed shots and turnovers, and Heerey found his touch again.
The senior nailed two three-pointers and two free throws in the fourth quarter, his last shot cutting the lead to six with three minutes to play.
After a steal and jumper by sophomore Travis Hett cut the lead to four, senior Nick Carlson's strong defense caused a double dribble turnover for Inman.
Travis Hett hit two free throws on the next possession and Marion was within two.
After a missed shot by Inman, Heerey found Vogel underneath for a layup to tie the score.
"We picked up our intensity and played with a lot more confidence," Ostmeyer said of the fourth quarter.
A long run can sometimes mentally tire out a team, and that may have been what happened to Marion. After Marion tied the score, Inman went back to their big man Schmidt for a layup. Missed shots and turnovers were all Marion had left, as Inman hit four free throws to close out the game 51-45.
"We just didn't make any plays in the end," Ostmeyer said.
But they made enough to let Ostmeyer say they can get in there and battle with just about anybody.
Travis Hett led Marion with 17 points and Heerey chipped in with a season-high 13 points.
Marion played last night at Halstead and plays again Friday against Haven at home.
