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MHS girls fight to the end but lose at sub-state

Staff writer

After surrendering an 11-0 run to start the game and trailing 16-2 after the first quarter at Hutchinson Trinity Monday, coach Randy Savage asked the Marion High School girls basketball players Monday if they wanted to pack it in or go out fighting.

One freshman responded by swinging a phantom rapier as a request to keep fighting.

The Warriors lost the game, 43-24, their third loss to Trinity this season.

“We appreciate the fact that they played hard up to the end of the game,” Savage said.

Whitney Gordon scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. She scored at least 19 points in every game against the Celtics this season.

“She likes playing against Hutch Trinity,” Savage said.

After sinking two 3-pointers and a layup, Gordon helped Marion cut the lead to just 11 in the third quarter. With only two other Warriors on the score sheet, Marion could not maintain the momentum for a comeback.

Katey Ehrlich scored 4 points and Donna Cady sank a free throw. The Warriors shot 21 percent from the field.

While Trinity scored 20 points off turnovers, Marion only gave the ball away 15 times. The rebounding differential was also manageable; the Celtics won on the boards, 35-30.

The Warriors end their year with a 7-14 record. After starting the season 1-8, Marion went 6-4 in their final 10 games.

“Five points would have gotten you to 7-3,” Savage told his team referring to a close loss to Trinity in Marion. “If you went back 12 games, we were 15 or 16 points from 9-3.”

Savage is pleased with the progress the young team has achieved throughout the season. With a team including freshman Ehrlich and sophomore Erin Meierhoff performing the duties as the Warriors’ primary guards and freshmen Megan Richmond, Kaelyn Thierolf, and Kelli Hess seeing long stretches of playing time, Savage said the first- and second-year players adjusted to the speed of the game, becoming less intimidated as the year progressed.

“It’s a big jump from middle school to high school varsity,” Savage said. “There’s a lot of growing up to do.”

The willingness to fight and work hard that Savage witnessed against Trinity was apparent in the Warriors outside of sanctioned games.

During Christmas break, Savage scheduled practices 8 to 10 a.m. He said he would arrive at 7:30 a.m. to see if any girls wanted to get there early. One particular day, Savage arrived at the USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center at 7:20 a.m. and found Meirhoff and Ehrlich waiting to practice. Thierolf, Richmond, and Hess arrived before 8 a.m. to work on their individual games.

This type of motivation showed Savage that the Warriors — including Gordon who is a junior — will be willing to work in the off-season — both in the weight room and on the court — to prepare to play by November next season.

“I would be shocked if they weren’t in here over the summer,” Savage said. “I’ll bet a pop they’ll be there.”

Ell-Saline

The Marion High School girls basketball team lost Friday to Ell-Saline at Ell-Saline, 57-36.

Whitney Gordon scored 17 points for the Warriors; Katey Ehrlich was the next high scorer with 7.

Canton-Galva

Marion defeated Canton-Galva Thursday in Marion, 44-37.

Although the Warriors started slow, allowing Canton-Galva to gain a 7-4 lead early in the first quarter, 16 points in the third quarter sealed the victory for the Warriors. Marion won every quarter except the second, in which both teams scored 9 points.

Canton-Galva had the lead in the game as late as the last minute of the third quarter when the Eagles led 31-30. A Gordon 3-pointer put the Warriors on top; Marion would not relinquish, building the margin to as many as 8 points in the fourth quarter.

Even though she shot 30 percent from the field, Gordon was the game’s high scorer with 16 points. She compiled 12 rebounds; 6 offensive rebounds led directly to points or trips to the charity stripe.

She was also Marion’s hottest shooter beyond the arc, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers.

Donna Cady and Ehrlich were the next highest scorers for the Warriors with 8 and 7 points, respectively.

While their scoring was appreciated, coach Randy Savage praised Ehrlich and primary ball handler Erin Meierhoff for controlling the ball. The Warriors only committed 7 turnovers, their lowest total all season.

“You’ve got to be happy with only 7 turnovers,” Savage said.

Assisting Ehrlich and Meierhoff was freshman guard Kelli Hess. Hess played 8 minutes Thursday, the most playing time she’s had since the first games of the season. She gave the Warriors a boost off the bench pushing the pace by sprinting up the floor and scoring 3 points.

“She’s got quick feet,” Savage said. “The speed of the game doesn’t bother her as much now.”

Canton-Galva stuck around in the game largely because of a 42-35 edge in rebounding. Makenzie Farnharm and Elizabeth Johnson both pulled down double-digit rebounds with 10 and 13 boards respectively.

“I know they had 3 offensive rebounds on one trip,” Savage said.

Farnharm scored 14 points for the Eagles with Erika Smith contributing 10 points and 3 assists.

“I thought everybody played all right tonight,” Savage said.

Last modified March 3, 2011

 

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