Patriots suffer stinging loss to Yellowjackets

Patriots suffer stinging loss to Yellowjackets

Marion boys lose conference game to Wynne on home court

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Marion Patriots (4-2 overall, 2-1 conference) fell to the Wynne Yellowjackets (4-4, 2-1) this past weekend 68-65.

The Patriots started out the night strong, leading 29-18 midway through the second quarter. However, an 8-2 run by the Yellowjackets, which ended on a buzzer beating three point shot by Wynne’s Ty Douglas, allowed the Yellowjackets to gain momentum which the team would use to take the lead in the second half.

Patriots Head Coach Irving Clay blamed the loss on himself for playing certain bench players while the Patriots were leading.

“I take full responsibility for that loss,” Clay said. “We had a pretty good cushion and I played some folks. But, now we know who are the best players on the team. You’ve got to come to grips with who’s the best on your team and cheer them on and when you get the opportunity to get out there you make the best of it. Hopefully it’s a learning tool and we’ll move on from this as individual players and as a team.”

The Yellowjackets came out of halftime and went on a 12-3 run which consisted a layup by Terry Burgess III which gave Wynne its first lead at 38-37. Clay believes the absence of Timothy Ceaser, who was on the bench due to foul trouble, played a big role in the Yellowjackets run.

“Timmy was sitting on the bench with foul trouble and when your shot blocker is not in the game folks drive to the basket,” Clay said. “They got too many easy buckets and when you get easy buckets like that it gives you confidence.”

Despite falling behind as many as six points, the Patriots battled back, briefly taking a 51-50 lead at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter thanks in part to two made free throws by Shaun Doss.

However, a three-point shot from Yellowjacket Devon Light sparked a 9-3 run and gave Wynne a lead which they would hold the rest of the game.

The Patriots had a chance to tie the game up at 59 apiece with 2:23 to play. However, Taylor Brown could only connect on one of two free throw attempts, leaving Marion trailing by one point. Missed free throws plagued the Marion team the entire game as the Patriots shot just 64 percent from the charity stripe on the night.

Doss, who led the Patriots with 27 points, pumped in 11 points in the fourth quarter before fouling out with under 30 seconds to play and Marion trailing by three points. Doss’s departure served a huge blow to the Patriots, according to Clay.

“He’s the leader out there on the floor and the leader has to be in the game,” Clay said. “It gives the other kids confidence to know there’s a go-to-guy out there on the floor.”

Martinez Harper, Kamari Marrs, Keyshawn Woods and Collin Chambers all pushed in 8 points apiece to tie for second on the team in scoring.

The Patriots bounced back Saturday night by defeating the Senatobia Warriors (4-8) in Columbus, Mississippi 60-44. Doss led the Patriots in scoring against the Warriors with 21 points.

The Patriots are next slated to play the Nettleton Raiders (5-4, 12) in Jonesboro tomorrow night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

By Collins Peeples