Staff writer
A basketball game can come down to one play and it isn’t always the last one.
Council Grove was leading the Marion High School boys basketball team, 43-41, with about 2 minutes left in the game. The Braves found themselves in the fortunate position of a fast break and the ball was in the hands of Council Grove’s point guard Tyler Sisson. Sisson drove down the middle of the lane, drawing Marion defender Wil Case who planted his body in front of Sisson in an attempt to draw a charge.
Only a few feet away from the basket, Sisson jumped and collided with Case, but while in midair he swung the ball around his back with his right hand and fired a pass to cutting Braves forward Brandon Dugan, who scored the open layup.
To the Council Grove faithful, the play was a glimpse of basketball artistry usually performed by NBA point men such as Steve Nash or Jason Kidd.
The Marion side of the audience saw the play as a blatant charge.
With no call on the play, the Braves earned a momentum boost and never trailed again in a game they won, 54-46.
Before Sisson’s behind-the-back craftsmanship, the Warriors were fighting valiantly to stay in a game they led as late as 2:17 in the third quarter. The man who kept Marion in the game was Isaac Hett.
Hett said that he wanted to be more aggressive on offense in his last few games of his senior season and it certainly paid dividends for the Warrior forward.
Hett accomplished about everything one high school basketball player can achieve in a single game. He scored 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 2-for-2 from downtown, he was Marion’s leading rebounder with nine boards, and he had three assists.
He was also effective at the defensive end of the floor, netting three blocks and five steals.
“We just didn’t win,” Hett said of his performance.
Case also scored 17 points for the Warriors with five 3-point bombs.
Eric Vogel attempted four shots, making one. He was hampered by foul trouble (eventually fouling out). Vogel and Hett were bothered by Brock Frye, who had six blocks in the game.
Marion finished the season with a 7-14 record. The Warriors were 5-17 last year.
Marion Boys Box Scores
Marion.......................................................46
Council Grove..........................................57
Name FG FT PTS PF R S A
*Case 5/17 2/4 17 3 3 3 1
*Maddox 1/1 0/0 2 1 3 0 1
J. Hett 1/3 0/0 3 1 0 2 3
*Cady 0/2 1/2 1 5 1 2 1
Versch 0/3 0/1 0 2 2 1 0
*I. Hett 7/18 5/9 21 2 9 5 3
*Vogel 1/4 0/2 2 5 5 0 2