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Warriors bounce Bulldogs

Sports reporter

Chase County scored the first basket, but Marion High School had the last laugh Friday night in its opening basketball game of the season.

Sophomore Kayley Heerey led three Warriors in double-figures with 17 points, as MHS started the season 1-0 with a 58-39 victory against the Bulldogs.

It was the first game for Randy Savage as MHS head coach. He was formerly the Warrior junior varsity coach until 2005.

"I wouldn't say any one thing jumped out," Savage said, "but we played man-to-man a little better than I thought we would. We ran our offense and defense a little more patiently, and we went to the basket a little more aggressively."

In other words, the Warriors did nearly everything right in winning half as many games already as it did last year.

Everything that is, except out-rebounding the Bulldogs.

Chase County had 50 rebounds to Marion's 42 — 28 of them on the offensive glass.

"We have to talk about rebounding," Savage said. "That's something we haven't worked on a lot in practice."

Despite struggling on the board, the Warriors were in control most of the game, mainly because of hustle from everyone on the court.

The talented sophomore trio of Julia Zeiner, Lindsay Hett, and Heerey scored 38 points, but it was the overall play of seniors Lauren Helmer, 13 points and eight rebounds, and fellow senior Kimber Hardey, four points, three rebounds, and six assists, that helped lead to the blowout victory.

Savage also was impressed with the bench play of Kristen Steinborn, Bridget Lundy, Emmali Kelsey, and Amanda Richmond.

"They did all the functional things that don't show up in the paper," Savage said.

All four played at least eight minutes in the game, and although they scored just three combined points, they had five steals, only four turnovers, and played well on defense.

The Warriors led just 11-8 after the first quarter, but outscored Chase County 17-6 in the second quarter behind seven points from Heerey.

MHS inched the lead to 16 after three quarters, and finally claimed the 19-point victory when time ran out.

Savage thought his team played smart against the 2A Bulldogs, especially in the turnover category which Marion won, 12-23.

"We talked about staying under 20," Savage said. "I was really happy with that."

After winning just two games a season ago, the Warriors are trying to focus on the present, but any victory is a positive.

"This was good for their confidence," Savage said. "But we are going to run up against some tough teams [this season]."

For now however, the Warriors are undefeated.

Inman tournament

Marion is currently participating in the Inman tournament, which began Tuesday with a game at Garden Plain.

The Warriors will hit the court again Thursday and Friday to finish out round-robin play.

Thursday's game against Inman is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the Friday contest against St. John is set for 4:30 p.m.

MHS will play its first home game of the season at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Lyons.

The game will not count in the Mid-Central Activities Association League standings.

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