MMS Wildcats cap season with loss to Lindsborg
The Marion Middle School Wildcat boys' basketball A-team saw its season come to an end Thursday, with a first-round MCAA tourney loss to Lindsborg at Marion High School Gymnasium, 35-24.
The Wildcats kept it close in the early going, trailing by one, 4-3, after Dane Purkeypile converted on a short jumper at the 3:03 mark.
It was as close as the Wildcats would get, as Lindsborg used a 7-0 run to take an 11-3 lead at the quarter.
That run proved costly for the Wildcats, who otherwise matched up well against the Vikings for the final three quarters. Marion scored 21 points the rest of the game, while allowing 24 Lindsborg tallies.
"For most of the game, we handled the ball as well as we have all season, but turnovers in key situations were costly," said MMS head coach Kelly Robson.
Free-throw shooting was a bright spot for the Wildcats, who made 10-of-16 from the charity stripe.
Robson also praised his team's rebounding effort against the taller, more athletic Vikings.
Andy Shipman's seven points led the Wildcats in scoring, with Dillon Richmond and Landon Leiker adding five points each.
"We battled hard all the way to the finish," said Robson. "In the end, we just couldn't make enough shots."
The Wildcats finished the season with a 2-12 record.