Patriots set for conference season tip-off

Patriots set for conference season tip-off

Marion will look to start their Class 6A schedule off with a victory tonight as they take on Blytheville Chickasaws

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Marion Patriots (1-1) play their first conference game tonight against the Blytheville Chickasaws (22) at 5 p.m. in Patriot Arena.

Momentum is on the Patriots side as the Marion team comes off their first win of the season. Sophomore Keyshawn Woods and senior Shaun Doss scored 20 and 19 points, respectively, to push the Patriots past Osceola 66-48 this past weekend at the Blue Devil Classic.

The Patriots will have their work cut out for them as they try to earn their second victory against a Chickasaws team which has two more games experience under their belt already this season.

“They’ve already played a lot of good competition so they already have an understanding of what they want to do,” Marion Head Coach Irving Clay said.

Winning their first game in their new conference at home is of paramount importance to the Patriots, according to Clay.

“We need to win at all cost because you never know what’s going to happen down the road,” Clay said.

In order to start their conference season off on a winning note, Clay believes the Patriots will need to execute their game plan to the best of their ability and take advantage of matchups that play in their favor.

“We have to be patient and execute,” Clay said. “I think we have some size on them inside so we have to beat them to the glass offensively and defensively.

Tonight’s game will be the first of two matchups between the Patriots and Chickasaws this season with the next game coming on the final day of the regular season, Feb. 16.

Tonight’s contest will tip in Patriot Arena at 5 p.m.

By Collins Peeples