Hard-fought homecoming doesn't go Warriors' way
Sports reporter
Despite three players scoring in double-figures Friday at its winter homecoming game against Halstead, the Marion High School Warrior boys' basketball team dropped a tough 68-62 decision to the Dragons.
The loss put MHS at 3-4 in the Mid-Central Activities Association, and 6-10 overall.
Senior point guard Calvin Jeffrey, who was named homecoming king just before the game, led Marion with 19 points, (7-7 from the free-throw line), and five assists.
Fellow senior Chase Carlson had 11 points, and junior Isaac Hett had 12 points and five rebounds, but the Warriors blew a 58-51 lead with four minutes, 29 seconds left in the game.
Halstead scored 10 points in the final 2:29 to claim the victory.
"I thought for 30 minutes we were really good. That's a heck of a team," MHS head coach Rex Ostmeyer said. "But if you have a seven-point lead with four minutes left, you better finish."
The game was back-and-forth from the start. Neither team lead by more than three points until a Matt Vermillion free throw with 56 seconds before the half gave Halstead a 30-26 lead.
Korye Garnett added another with 36 seconds left as the Dragons took a five-point lead into halftime.
A Jeffrey layup and Carlson three-pointer tied the game again with 6:30 left in the third, but Halstead quickly jumped back ahead and took a 50-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
Whatever Ostmeyer told his team heading into the final quarter, it worked, as the Warriors scored the first nine points, and went on a 15-1 run to lead 58-51.
The last four points came on the same possession when Carlson nailed another three-pointer, and a foul was called underneath on Halstead.
Vogel hit one of two free throws, and the crowd was buzzing with 4:29 to play.
However, after Halstead ran off five straight points, MHS center Luke Gordon fouled out with three points and six rebounds at the 3:19 mark.
After Jeffrey hit two free throws to grow the lead to four, HHS ran off eight straight points, which included two three-point plays, in a one-minute, seven-second span.
Carlson was whistled for his fifth foul on the second and-one for Halstead, and the Warriors were without him and Gordon for the final 1:35.
Both teams were whistled for 22 fouls each, and the flow of the game was interrupted with both teams over the bonus early in each half.
Ostmeyer didn't think the officiating had anything to do with the outcome.
"We really, really played not to lose," Ostmeyer said of the final quarter. "We did not attack. But it didn't help that Chase and Luke were sitting on the bench," Ostmeyer said.
The momentum had quickly swung to Halstead's side as its crowd of a couple hundred was rocking.
Elliot Hett got the Marion crowd on its feet with a steal and a layup at the 1:09 mark, but MHS wouldn't score again.
Vogel stole the ball on Halstead's next possession, but a turnover gave the ball back to Halstead with 54 seconds left in the game.
Two Vermillion free throws later Marion still had a chance, but another missed shot all but ended the game for Marion.
Two more free throws for Halstead with 21 seconds completed the scoring.
The Warriors were 21-51 from the field, while the Dragons were 24-50.
Besides the three players in double-figures, Vogel had eight points and five rebounds, Heidebrecht seven points and three rebounds, and Elliot Hett contributed two points.
Although both teams battled hard the entire time, the victory seemed to give the Dragon players a second wind.
The loss was evident in the faces of the players after the game.
"We've been in enough close games, we can't play timid," Ostmeyer said. "That's the frustrating thing."
The Warriors played in their final home game ever in the current gym Tuesday against Smoky Valley.
The final three games of the season will be on the road with a game Friday at Wichita Collegiate, Saturday at Haven, and Tuesday at Hesston.
