News editor
The Marion High School girls’ basketball team came from behind Saturday to win its first game of the year against the Belle Plaine Dragons, 46-39.
Marion was behind, 31-28, late in the third quarter before scoring 18 points over the last 9 minutes of the game. It was a back-and-forth game, with neither team getting a lead of more than 4 points until Marion went up, 42-36, late in the fourth quarter.
Megan Richmond got the Warriors to that 6-point lead by blocking a layup attempt on a Belle Plaine fast break, getting a defensive rebound, then sinking a 3-pointer from the left corner.
The Warriors solidified the lead when Erin Meierhoff got a steal and set up the offense, instead of pushing for a layup, with about 2 minutes left. The possession resulted in a Meierhoff assist to Richmond, who scored the basket and made the free throw after being fouled.
Another Richmond basket, with a score of 45-39, was wiped out by an offensive foul call. With Marion up by 6 in the final minute, Belle Plaine fouled Meierhoff, who made one-of-two free throws. Neither team would score again.
Katey Ehrlich was the high scorer for the Warriors with 13 points; she also had 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Meierhoff had 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
Robson said he liked how the offense played with Ehrlich at point guard and Meierhoff at shooting guard. He said that combination keeps the offense calm, and that Ehrlich drives defensive gaps well, both in transition and in the half-court offense.
Richmond had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. Kelli Hess scored 6 points and had 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Hess was also selected as a member of the Marion Classic all-tournament team.
Ericka Herzet was a spark plug coming off the bench. In less than seven minutes of playing time, she scored 6 points and had 3 offensive rebounds and an assist. Robson said he had been talking with Herzet about getting more playing time, and she had asked what she needed to do.
“Just keep practicing what we’re doing,” Robson told her.
“I was very pleased with her rebounding,” he said.
Kaelyn Thierolf had 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block.
Head coach Kelly Robson said the older girls on the team have been through a couple of tough seasons, and he was happy to see them rewarded for their hard work early in the season with a victory. With no games until Friday, he was looking forward to a full week of practice coming off the victory.
With the win, the Warriors placed fifth in the Marion Classic. Ehrlich, Hess, and Thierolf were recognized as being part of the tournament all-academic team before the game.
The Warriors’ next game is Friday at Canton-Galva.
Remington
The Warriors got out to an early lead Friday against the Remington Broncos but couldn’t hold on in the second half. Thierolf scored 6 points in the first quarter as Marion got to an 11-3 lead. The lead was extended to 13-3 early in the second quarter, but Remington chipped away at the lead the rest of the first half, and Marion led 20-15 at halftime.
Remington took a lead early in the third quarter. Thierolf tied the game at 22 with 4:20 left in the quarter, but the Broncos took the lead back and extended it to 32-27 at the end of the third quarter. The Broncos pulled away in the last 2:30 of the game to win, 45-34.
Hess led the team in scoring with 9 points. She also had 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. Thierolf scored 8 points and had 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Ehrlich, Meierhoff, and Richmond each had 5 points. Ehrlich also had 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block. Meierhoff had 2 assists and 2 steals. Richmond had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Kirsten Hansen had 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 4 steals.