By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

The Marion Warriors almost let an 8-point lead evaporate in the final seconds of Tuesday’s game against Remington, but escaped with a 62-60 win.

The Warriors appeared to have the game well in-hand, holding a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Almost every time the Broncos scored, the Warriors had an answer. When Jacob Baldwin scored on a drive to give Marion a 7-point cushion, 55-48, with just over 2 minutes to play, they were still in control.

Two Baldwin free throws pushed the lead to 60-52 with 24 seconds remaining. However, the Broncos wouldn’t go down without one last nerve-wracking rally.

Baldwin exited the game after fouling Paul Klaassen on a 3-point attempt. Klaassen hit 2 of 3 free throws, then stole the inbounds pass and was fouled again, with 14 seconds left. He scored both charities, cutting the Marion lead to 60-56.

Defensive pressure in the backcourt caused Marion coach Jeff McMillin to call a timeout with 10 seconds remaining. The Broncos intercepted the inbounds pass and fed Claassen for a layup.

With the score 60-58 and 6 seconds to play, the Broncos fouled Bret Voth, who had missed two of his last four free-throw attempts.

This time, Voth was perfect, giving the Warriors a 4-point edge. Remington raced down the floor for another score. The buzzer sounded, but officials ruled the Broncos called timeout with eight-tenths of a second remaining. Marion got the ball in safely to preserve the 62-60 win.

“The worst thing we did was try to protect the lead,” McMillin said. “We made several mistakes you can’t make. Luckily our margin was large enough we were able to hold on.”

McMillin said the loss of Baldwin compromised the Warriors’ ability to inbound the ball.

“We missed that poise that we needed at the end of the game,” he said.

Remington won 52-39 the first time the teams met this season, and McMillin said Tuesday’s outcome was the result of a lot of hard work between then and now.

“This weekend I watched a lot of the previous film, I watched it several times,” McMilin said. “I was amazed how bad we were that early in the year. Everything that we do now is better. Our potential for growth was a lot higher than some other teams.”

Voth led Marion in scoring with 21, and Dylan Pippin scored 17.

The Warriors’ next game is Friday at home against Bennington.