Warriors set school record against Herington
By ERIC CLARK
Sports editor
After a mentally and physically taxing week for members of the Marion High School boys' basketball team, there was some uncertainty about how the Warriors would respond to their first game back without senior Calvin Riggs, who died Jan. 4 in a car accident.
In dedicatory fashion, the Warriors, (wearing wrist bands with Riggs's former number 43), set a new school record Friday night for least points allowed in a game, while cruising to an emotional 57-22 victory over Herington.
"I wasn't sure how we'd come out," said head coach Rex Ostmeyer. "It's been an extremely difficult week and a half. I thought we'd either come out flat or Herington would run into the proverbial buzz saw. Tonight, it was the latter."
Led by senior core Jared Hett, Tyler Smith, Nickolas Hett, Clayton Chamberland, Joe Svitak, Tyler Stubenhofer, and Farai Mukwindidza, the Warriors went on both offensive and defensive attack against the Railers.
Herington started the game with five reserves because of disciplinary actions taken by the Railer coach after the five starters failed to make it to several practices during the holiday break, according to sources close to the team. However, members of the original starting five quickly made their way onto the court after sitting on the bench for the first two minutes of the game.
Despite the shuffle in the line-up, the first quarter showed signs of being a Cottonwood Valley League war.
In the first quarter, the Warriors took an early 13-7 lead despite numerous advances made by the Railers, who appeared to own the paint early in the game.
But Marion held off Herington in the second quarter to take a 27-18 lead into the locker room at intermission after outscoring the Railers 14-11.
After half-time, the Warriors came out rejuvenated offensively and defensively, frustrating and tormenting the Herington team. Marion recorded 21 steals in the game, while only turning the ball over 10 times.
In the third and fourth quarters, Marion held the Railers to just four points and zero points respectively, while rolling up 11 and 19 in the final two quarter respectively.
By holding the Railers to just 22 points, the Warriors set a new school record for fewest points allowed in a game. The former mark was held by the Marion 2000-2001 team, who held Wichita Independent to just 25 points while on the road.
Jared Hett led the Warriors in scoring with 16 points. The senior hit 6-of-16 shots from the field, 1-of-5 from behind the arc, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. He also added three steals, three deflections, four assists, and a rebound.
Nickolas Hett complemented his teammate with 10 points. Hett was 3-for-6 from the field, 3-for-5 from the three-point line, and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. He also added six steals, four rebounds, two deflections, and one blocked shot.
Stubenhofer added seven points in the win. He finished with five rebounds, five steals, three assists, and one deflection.
With the win, Marion is 5-2 overall, and 3-0 in the CVL. The Warriors traveled Tuesday to battle Wichita Trinity Academy.
Marion will host Wichita Independent Friday night at home before venturing Monday to Hillsboro for the Trojan Classic boys' basketball tournament.
