Staff writer
Marion High School girls’ basketball head coach Kelly Robson says after every game how proud he is proud of his players’ effort, win or lose.
“I really have appreciated their effort,” Robson says. “I’m hearing from people in the stands, they’re complimenting my coaching. I don’t know if it’s any of that, but, boy, the girls are playing so hard.”
The Lady Warriors are 7-10 at this point in the season, one win shy of matching their win total from the past two seasons combined. Four of their losses this season came within five points or less, including a one-point double-overtime loss to Berean Academy.
“It’s a good group of kids,” Robson said. “A lot of seniors and a couple of younger ones that know a little bit about the game.”
A 47-36 victory Friday against Canton-Galva evidenced the progress made by the team from one year to another.
The Lady Warriors fell behind 9-4 after the first quarter, but continued to pressure the Eagles up and down the court, converting turnovers to lead 31-17 midway through the third.
“For this group of girls, when we can get a lead to double-digits, it’s not that they feel like ‘Oh, we’ve got it won,’ but they just play with a lot more confidence, and they don’t worry about each possession so much,” Robson said.
Through their successes though, Robson said there are things that must continue to improve, such as free-throw shooting and making the tougher layups.
He said there have been games, like 20-plus-point losses to Remington and Hillsboro, in which the girls were overmatched, but he hopes to finish the season strong.
“We played hard those games, but we couldn’t compete in those games,” he said. “We can compete in anything else we do.”
Tuesday at Sedgwick
The girls defeated Sedgwick Tuesday night after beginning the game closely. The Lady Warriors trailed the Cardinals by one point after the first two quarters, going into halftime down 18-17.
Marion held Sedgwick to two points in the third, taking a 25-20 lead into the final quarter. The Lady Warriors outscored the Cardinals 14-9 in the fourth, winning 39-29.