The shots fell at the right times in the Marion Warriors’ first two games of the Class 3A girls state tournament as they were able to advance to Saturday’s championship game at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
But it was those shots not falling the right way in crunch time that was the difference in the Warriors’ 56-45 loss to Hays Thomas More Prep in a game that was a lot more closer than the final score indicated.
“We worked hard to get here as we shot the ball, and we played very well defensively,” said Marion coach Randy Savage. “We had the shots (in the final) and they just bounced out. That’s just the way it goes. Sometimes the ball just bounces our way, but today it didn’t.”
The Warriors (21-6) had rallied from a double digit deficit in the second quarter to tie the game at 33-33 late in the third quarter, but they were never able to regain the lead as TMP was able to match basket after basket until the final two minutes then pulled away by making their free throws after Marion was forced to foul.
Marion loses six seniors from this squad and they took away the big picture of their season, despite the unhappy ending.
“We got better and better each week,” said senior Julia Zeiner. “We just kept playing harder because we wanted to keep winning. We just had to get better rebounding (in the final) to get back in this. We wanted this a lot and we never gave up. Second place in the state isn’t bad, and we’ll take it.”
“We’re a real quirky group,” added senior Lindsay Hett. “I’m proud of us for fighting all the way through sub-state and getting all the way to the state final. It’s been a great deal of friends and we’ll cherish all the memories we’ll have about this season.”
Zeiner led Marion with 12 points, while Hett and Kayley Herrey added 10 points apiece in the loss. Rachel Jacobs led the Monarchs (26-1) with 18 points, while Jenna Stramel added 13 in the state championship victory.
Marion took the early lead, but the Monarchs controlled the first quarter and pushed ahead by five before a late Warriors basket made the score 12-9 after one stanza. TMP continued their push – getting the lead up to 23-12 before the Warriors battled back and scored seven of the last nine points to cut the deficit to 25-19 by intermission.
MARION (45) – Bridget Lundy 2, Julia Zeiner 12, Lindsay Hett 10, Whitney Gordon 7, Kayley Herrey 11, Kristen Steinborn 3. Totals 17 6-10 45.
THOMAS MORE PREP (56) – Rachel Jacobs 18, Heather Ruder 4, Sophia Schippers 9, Jenna Lang 4, Jessa Stramel 13, Kaylee Hoffman 8. Totals 17-50 16-21 56.
Marion 9 10 14 12 – 45
TMP 12 13 10 21 – 56
Three-point baskets – Marion 5 (Hett 2, Gordon 1, Herry 2), TMP 6 (Schippers 3, Lang 1, Stramel 1, Hoffman 1). Records – Marion 21-6, TMP 26-1.
