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Vikings plow through Warriors

Sports reporter

Chase Dippel is for real.

The Marion High School boys' basketball team found that out the hard way Friday, as the Smoky Valley junior poured in 39 points en route to a 70-50 victory against the Warriors.

Coming off a 57-point performance against Chaparell, the 39 didn't seem so bad, but it was enough to send MHS to a 1-4 record.

"That kid is phenomenal," MHS head coach Rex Ostmeyer said. "He can score any way he wants."

It was Marion however, who had a three-point lead midway through the second quarter, before a late run gave the Vikings a 36-25 halftime lead.

"Our key is still to play for the entire 32 minutes," Ostmeyer said.

He felt his team was having stretches during the Inman tournament two weeks ago where they would mentally "check out" and that happened again Friday in the second quarter.

The lead changed so fast at the end of the quarter, Ostmeyer couldn't believe his eyes.

"I was asking everybody in the building how we were down 11," he said.

The Vikings scored the first five of the second half, and although Marion cut the lead to 10, Smoky Valley pulled away for the victory.

Junior Calvin Jeffrey, who is averaging just under 20 points per game this season, scored a team-high 20 points.

He nailed two three-pointers and was 4-4 from the free-throw line.

Luke Gordon had eight points and five rebounds, Isaac Hett seven and six, Chase Carlson added four points and six rebounds, and Justin Heidebrecht had five and six.

Ostmeyer wasn't pleased his team lost, but did see some positives.

"We did a great job rebounding," he said. "We're getting better."

Rebounding was a major issue at the Inman tournament, but Marion out-rebounded Smoky Valley 44-38, and 16-10 on the offensive glass.

However, it was the little things, along with Dippel, that buried the Warriors.

Of the 16 offensive rebounds, MHS scored just two second-chance points, while the Vikings registered 12.

But Ostmeyer still thought his team, who has yet to play a home game, is moving in the right direction.

"We're on the right track," he said. "We just really need to be focused every possession."

The Warriors play their first home game tonight against Sterling, their final game before winter break.

The postponed Dec. 11 game against Lyons has been re-scheduled for January 5 according to MHS activities director Tod Gordon.

See below for complete box score.

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