Staff writer
The Marion High School boys basketball team defeated Hope Saturday in the championship game of the Centre Invitational Tournament, 43-40.
“It feels good to win three games in a row,” all-tournament performer Jordan Versch said.
From the opening minutes of the first quarter, the Warriors were energized. Marion guards attacked on offensive, driving to the rim to set a fast pace for the game action.
Jordan Hett was the catalyst for the offense. He scored 12 points in the first quarter. He scored on two contested layups, a fade-away jump shot, and two corner 3-pointers.
More Warriors got into the act. Dillon Richmond sank a layup, Mikael Antoszyk hit a fast-break layup after a steal, Jacob Harper scored on a layup, and Versch hit a 3-pointer.
The long-distance shooting all came with 1 minute, 37 seconds left in the quarter. An 11-3 lead ballooned to 22-5.
“Once we got in the locker room, we got focused,” Versch said of the torrid start. “We shot lights out.”
Hett and Versch nailed 3-pointers to start the second quarter, but the momentum started to turn. Hope went on a 9-0 run, however Richmond hit two free throws and Harper sank a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to put Marion up 32-14.
Hot as the Warriors were in the first quarter, they were just as cold in the third period. Versch scored the only points in the quarter on a drive through the middle of the lane. Marion was outscored 10-2 in the frame.
“We were cold,” Versch said. “But, to be honest, we just weren’t thinking.”
“We feel more comfortable when the score is close or we’re behind,” coach Jeff McMillin said.
With their backs against the wall and forward Dane Purkeypile on the bench with 5 fouls, the Warriors came up with enough plays on defense and made free throws to win the game.
Hope brought the score within 3 with a corner trey by Tyler Mudd. On the next Lion possession, Versch secured a rebound off a 3-point miss by Shilo Goracke. Richmond hit the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity after a Versch pass.
After a 3-pointer from Hope’s Landon Cook failed to graze the rim and landed out of bounds, Antoszyk was fouled receiving the inbounds pass and hit the front end of a 1-and-1.
Richmond came down with a board on the next possession. Versch hit a corresponding free throw. A 3-point lead was stretched to 6, but Goracke hauled in an offensive rebound and put in a layup to make it a two-possession game.
Trying to secure the ball on an inbounds pass, Hett was forced into the corner of the court. Although there was contact from the Lion defender, the ball was called out-of-bounds off Hett’s foot.
With the ball back, the Lions hoisted a contested 3-point shot and Harper secured the rebound with both hands. He was immediately fouled and put in both free throws.
Antoszyk added a free throw to give the Warriors the winning margin of 43-40.
Rebounding, a bugaboo for McMillin all season, was a significant statistical gain against Hope. The Warriors outrebounded the Lions, 35-31. Richmond had 10 boards, Harper had 9, and Versch had 5.
“We’ve talked about five guys going to the basket,” McMillin said.
White City
Marion defeated White City Friday in the semifinal round, 35-33, another nailbiter.
The Warriors consistently scored throughout the first three quarters of the contest, led by Hett who poured in 22 points. Hett keyed the Marion attack by relentlessly driving to the basket.
Facing 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4 post players from White City, Hett scored on layups, floaters, and short jump shots.
“I just told myself, I just had to drive,” Hett said. “My floaters are pretty good; I’ve worked on them a lot.”
The only part of his game that was not sharp Friday was 3-point shooting, where Hett was 0-4.
“There’s a reason why one is worth 3 and another is worth 2,” McMillin said. “Even the good ones miss over half the time.”
Despite Hett’s offensive binge, the Warriors were down 23-22 at halftime.
Punctuating a consistent full-game effort, the Warrior defense held White City to 6 and 4 points respectively for the final two quarters. The game plan called for tight 2-3 zone. With the scheme in place, Scott Jones anchored the defense, which limited the Huskies’ size advantage. Jones was instrumental by shadowing Husky center Tanner Boeh when he moved in and out of the lane. Although Boeh scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, he had to earn every opportunity.
“When you let him catch with an angle, he’ll score more times than not,” McMillin said. “If he has to create his own angle, he’s not as effective.”
The Marion wing players also picked up rebounds on the defensive glass; Richmond and Harper each had 8 rebounds.
Even with the defense playing well, the Warriors suffered a scoring drought that lasted until the 2 minute, 41 second mark when Harper hit what would be the game winning 3-pointer.
“We keep trying to sell the kids on the concept of putting four quarters together,” McMillin said.
Versch iced the game for the Warriors by blocking a Husky jump shot along the baseline out of bounds. White City had one more play, but Jared Nittler was forced into a quick 3-pointer that clanged off the rim.