February a big month for Marion Patriot basketball

Boys, girls teams still looking for playoff spots

By Chuck Livingston

Marion School District

It's the shortest month of the year, but for the Marion basketball teams, there are liable to be some long nights as the days get longer and the games get bigger in February.

In today's edition of the shoot around, we look at the current 5A East standings for the boys and girls and take a glance around the league at what could be the biggest games remaining for the Lady Patriots and Patriots this March at Greene County Tech's Eagle Arena.

Let's start with Shunda Johnson's Lady Patriots, and I believe that anybody around the program would have taken a 5-2 start to 5A East play back in September.

That mark is good enough for a second-place tie right now with Valley View, and while the Lady Blazers have a makeup game tonight and would currently own the head-to-head tiebreaker, it's important to remember that Marion hosts Valley View for Senior Night on February 25.

Marion is also still involved in the conference title hunt, but it may be a lot to ask for Greene County Tech to lose at least twice down the stretch, including a Marion victory at Eagle Arena in February 28's regular-season finale.

Should the Lady Pats replicate their 5-2 mark from January in February then Marion could very well finish with a No. 2 playoff seed and a slightly more favorable opening- round matchup in the state tournament.

We know that Marion would love to avoid finishing as the No. 4 playoff seed as it would

See PATS, page A10 PATS

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call for a first-round matchup with state power Farmington in the state tournament's opening round, so every game will be crucial down the stretch for the Lady Patriots.

Remember, Marion already owns quality victories over West Memphis, Nettleton, Searcy, Paragould, and Batesville at this time, so should the Lady Pats finish season sweeps this month over any or all of those schools, then it would benefit MHS in a big way.

On the boys side, Marion suffered two gut-punch losses over the season's first seven games, losing at home to Nettleton and on the road at Valley View by a combined nine points.

But the Pats have handled business against everyone else on the slate, beating four league opponents by doubledigits, while also taking a two-point decision in the conference opener at West Memphis.

It's possible that the Patriots also got a good result last Friday night when Valley View topped Nettleton by three points.

Yes, it's true that those are the two league teams to beat the Patriots so far this season, but both were close, and it's possible that Marion could top those squads over these last seven games.

Reminder, Marion travels to Nettleton on February 11, but the Pats host Valley View on February 25.

Should the Pats avenge those losses, Marion would only need a Nettleton victory over Valley View to force a threeway tie for the 5A East crown, and if the Patriots can take care of business with tiebreaker points then MHS could still earn a No. 1 playoff seed. It's only natural for everyone to look ahead to March madness, which is closer than it's been to Marion in a long time, but there are crucial games to be played down the stretch still here.

Neither Marion team has assured themselves of a state tournament bid yet, but they have laid a solid foundation thus far.

Only seven games left in what has been an exciting season of hoops already.

Junior High Hoops

If you can't make tonight's junior high hoops regular-season finale against Batesville at Fidelity Bank Arena, then feel free to join us with a free broadcast on MarionPatriots.com, on the MPAN YouTube channel, or on the MPAN mobile app. Tip of the girls game is scheduled for approximately 6 p.m. while the boys will get going around 7:15 p.m.

5A East Girls Standings

Greene Co. Tech 7-0 Marion 5-2 Valley View 4-2 W. Memphis 4-3 Nettleton 2-4 Searcy 2-4 Batesville 2-4 Paragould 0-7

5A East Boys Standings

Valley View 6-0 Nettleton 5-1 Marion 5-2 Greene Co. Tech 4-3 W. Memphis 3-4 Paragould 2-5 Searcy 1-5 Batesville 0-6

Remaining Marion Basketball Games

February 7 vs. W. Memphis February 11 at Nettleton February 14 vs. Searcy February 18 vs. Paragould February 21 at Batesville February 25 vs. Valley View February 28 at Greene County Tech