Staff writer
The Marion High School girls basketball team narrowly defeated Hesston Friday at Hesston, 57-51.
Bridget Lundy, Julia Zeiner, and Kristen Steinborn fouled out of the game late in the fourth quarter. Kayley Heerey — suffering flu-like symptoms — sat out most of the second half. Lindsay Hett played 29 minutes out of a possible 32, but fell to the floor after stepping on a Hesston player’s ankle late in the fourth quarter. She would return to the game, but there was a stretch of time when none of the Marion starters were available.
Emily Hett, Danae Edwards, Whitney Gordon, Chassidy Carlson, and Donna Cady held off the Hesston charge in the last 3 minutes of the game, committing only one turnover for the entire game.
While the Warriors watched an 18-point, third-quarter lead disintegrate to just 3, Whitney Gordon, Chassidy Carlson, and Donna Cady hit free throws to put the Warrior advantage to a two-possession game.
“We didn’t quit,” Marion Head Coach Randy Savage said. “That’s nice when your bench girls are out there and they’re not willing to quit either.”
After returning to the floor with a slight limp, Hett also hit a free throw to give the Warriors a 5-point lead with mere seconds remaining on the clock.
It was only appropriate that Hett would finish a game in which she was a major factor in wrestling momentum away from the Swathers.
The Swathers fought to close the Marion lead to 5 points early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors were suffering an extended offensive drought when Hett received the ball about 17 feet away from the basket. She scanned the court — looking closely for an open teammate. With no one open, Hett pulled up for a jumper that found the bottom of the net.
A few plays later, the Swathers stole the ball, diving frenetically to secure the loose ball along the Hesston fan sidelines.
It seemed like the type of hustle play that can swing the momentum of a game, but Hett pressured the Swather who controlled the ball, forced a steal, and the Warriors scored on that play.
Hett and Gordon were also instrumental in giving the Warriors a 40-to-33 rebounding advantage. Hett ended the game with 11 boards; Gordon had eight rebounds.
Gordon, Zeiner, and Hett were also the leading scorers for the Warriors with 15, 13, and 9 points respectively.
Marion Girls Box Scores
Marion.....................................................57
Hesston...................................................51
Name FG FT PTS PF R S A
*Lundy 1/2 0/0 3 5 5 0 0
E. Hett 0/2 0/0 0 1 2 0 0
Cady 0/0 1/2 1 0 2 1 1
*Zeiner 6/7 1/2 13 5 5 1 2
*L. Hett 3/10 2/5 9 1 11 4 4
Edwards 0/0 0/0 0 1 0 0 0
Gordon 5/8 3/9 15 2 8 0 5
*Heerey 3/6 0/0 8 0 3 1 1
*Steinborn 3/9 0/1 7 5 2 3 0
Carlson 0/1 1/2 1 1 1 0 0