Staff writer
The Marion girls’ basketball team scored 3 points over the middle two quarters and lost to Southeast of Saline 48-25 after leading 15-10 through the first quarter.
“We just can’t have that,” head coach Kelly Robson said of the low point production in the second and third. “Maybe unfortunately for us, we got a few shots to go in in the first quarter, and then we started thinking we could make everything from out there, and we didn’t even try to get it inside anymore.”
Southeast of Saline outshot Marion 59 percent to 22 percent from below the arc. The Spartans had a better night at the free-throw line, too, going 10-for-17 while the Warriors went 3-for-8.
Bailey Robson led the Warriors with 8 points and 6 rebounds, while Julia Hall added 6 points and 3 rebounds and Kirsten Hansen added 3 points and a team-leading 3 assists.
Ball handling was a problem as well for the Warriors, who had 29 turnovers. Coach Robson didn’t see that as a primary concern, however.
“I was pleased with some of the times we were strong with the ball when we were trapped because in other years we would keep leaning back and we would have a weak turnover,” he said. “We didn’t have those kind. We had tired turnovers. We’re not in good shape, and that’s my fault. We better start working on that on Monday.”
Southeast of Saline had a size advantage, and that hurt the Warriors as well.
“We can’t match their inside,” Coach Robson said. “Erica Montgomery really got going, and that kind of stretched us thin.”
It may have affected the Warriors offensively as well, as Coach Robson thought his team seemed more tentative to drive the ball, especially after opening the game with good shooting in the first quarter.
“I think we’re an OK shooting team, and I’ve told them that, but I think we settled too much tonight,” he said. “We did get off to a very good start, I was really pleased with that.”
Coach Robson didn’t think the scoreboard accurately reflected the difference in the two teams.
“I told the girls I didn’t think this team was (23) points better than us,” he said. “I’ll give them double-digits, I’ll say they’re 10 or 12 points better than us probably, but I don’t think 23 was really the difference in the two teams.”
The Warriors went on to play in the Marion Classic on Tuesday, where they faced Peabody-Burns. The results of that game were not available as of press time.