Warriors knock Cardinals off home perch
Sports reporter
Three weeks off, and a long bus trip Friday night could have been enough to defeat the Marion Warriors boys' basketball team.
Instead, the Warriors shook off rust in the second half and claimed their first ever Mid-Central Activities Association victory, 53-43 against the Hoisington Cardinals.
The 10-point victory was a little deceiving, considering Marion trailed by one at the half, and led by only five heading into the final quarter. But after the long break, coach Rex Ostmeyer will take any victory.
"It was a scary game, with the limited practice time," he said. "I didn't have any clue what to expect."
Hoisington played a makeup game the night before, and came out firing in the first half.
The first quarter was back and forth, as Marion senior center Dale Vogel poured in six of his game-high 20 points. The second quarter turned ugly, early, for Marion.
Leading 14-13 the Cardinals scored the first six points of the quarter, as the home crowd cheered the seven-point lead.
Marion quickly answered back with three straight steals.
Senior guard Nick Carlson,
Vogel, and senior guard Adam Heerey turned the steals into buckets and the lead was cut to one.
After a Hoisington miss, Vogel scored again to give the Warriors their first lead since 6-5.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the second frame, and Marion headed into the locker room down a point.
The second half started bad once again for Marion as Hoisington scored the first three points. Vogel then decided to take over.
He scored on two straight possessions, tying the game at 29 and sending a message to the Cardinals.
"We were tired of these guys hanging around and we said we're just going to put them away and finish it," Vogel said.
That they did.
The Warriors never trailed again as they ended the quarter on a 9-4 run.
Marion controlled the fourth quarter never leading by less than three. The Warriors had five different players score, and hit their free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Sophomore Jason Hett was right behind Vogel with 15 points. He also added seven rebounds and two assists. Four of those rebounds were offensive, leading to big second-chance points.
"Jason has been pretty consistent all year," Ostmeyer said. "He's just that type of player."
But it was a few unheralded players whom Ostmeyer praised after the game.
Carlson, Heerey, and senior Tyson Heidebrecht didn't light up the stat sheet, but still provided much needed help.
The 5-8 Heerey scored just three points, but he hauled in seven rebounds at the guard position.
"Those were tough rebounds," Ostmeyer said of the senior's effort.
Carlson and Heidebrecht both scored five points and had three rebounds, but it was their intensity and defense that Ostmeyer noticed.
"Tyson and Nick battled," he said. "I was happy with the way they played."
Sophomore guard Travis Hett, who had been averaging around 11 points per game, scored just five points on 1-8 shooting.
Once again Ostmeyer sent praise in Hett's direction despite a poor shooting night. Along with the five points, Travis tallied a season-high six assists. He also added five rebounds and four assists.
That type of balance from the whole team needs to continue for Marion (1-0 MCAA, 4-3 overall) to be successful in the new league.
So far they have been.
"Hey, we're undefeated in the league," Ostmeyer said with a laugh.
JV squeaks out win
Freshman Calvin Jeffrey stole the ball with 10 seconds left and passed to junior Jeff Richmond for the game-winning layup Friday against the Hoisington Cardinals.
The two-point victory gave Marion a 6-1 record.
