Sports editor
Julia Zeiner scored 31 points and Lindsay Hett added 15 and grabbed six rebounds Friday, but the Marion High School girls’ basketball team fell to third-ranked Moundridge, 65-61.
The 2A Wildcats had the lead at the end of every quarter, but the Warriors (2-2) were constantly nipping at their heels. Moundridge led just 43-42 heading into the fourth, and grew its lead to seven halfway through.
The final minutes consisted of Marion cutting into a four or five-point deficit with baskets, but Moundridge knocked down 25-of-28 free throws to never relinquish the lead.
“I don’t know how much better we could play,” Warrior head coach Randy Savage said. “It came down to who had the three-point lead at the end.”
With the stellar free-throw shooting, it ended up being the 6-0 Wildcats.
Zeiner did all she could by hitting 10-of-16 shots, and connecting on 11-of-13 free throws, many coming in the final quarter.
“She played a heck of a game,” Savage said. “She got out and ran well, and hit her free throws.”
However the Wildcats had a few players who did the same, including Spencer Suderman. She scored 14 of her 23 points in the first quarter, and made good on five of her eight three-point attempts.
Kate Vogts was in double-figures with 16 points, and Taylor Schrag added 10 for Moundridge.
Even though the Wildcats shot 45 percent from the field, grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, and had eight steals, the Warriors were nearly even and out-performed them in some categories.
Marion shot 42 percent, had 17 offensive rebounds, and 10 steals. The Warriors had less turnovers (14 to 18), more total rebounds (28 to 22), and the same amount of steals (seven).
They were a respectable 76 percent from the free throw line (19-26), but Moundridge scorched the line at 89.3 percent.
“They knew exactly what they needed to do (to win),” Savage said of the Wildcats.
It was a tough game to lose because Savage felt like his team could compete, but Moundridge is not in the Mid-Central Activities Association, meaning Marion remains at 0-0 in the league.
“It was disappointing, but I prefer to lose them out of league,” Savage said. “I can stomach a loss when we play like we did (Friday).”
That’s because he knows his team gave a total effort, and despite needing to work on its man-to-man defense, Savage said he was proud of his team.
“We played a good game,” he said.
Kayley Heerey had seven points, four rebounds, and three assists in the game, and Kristen Steinborn chipped in five points and three steals for Marion.
Despite not scoring, Bridget Lundy backed up Hett at the point position with four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
With just four games under their belts, the Warriors still have all 11 of their league games left, along with three in the Trojan Classic, and non-league games against Hesston and Council Grove.
All 16 of them will come next semester, as MHS doesn’t take the court again until Jan. 6 at Ellinwood.
The Warriors are averaging 60.3 points per game, but Savage said scoring isn’t a problem.
“We need to work on our defense a little bit,” he said.