Patriots turn back Pioneers in 5A East road clash

Marion getting ready for the postseason

By CHUCK LIVINGSTON

Marion School District

BATESVILLE — Through the first quarter Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Gymnasium, upset-minded Batesville matched Marion blow for blow.

The game was knotted at 11, and the Pioneers were looking to play spoiler in the tight 5A East title hunt.

But the last three quarters were a different story.

Marion outscored Batesville by 20 points in the second quarter to take a 35-15 lead to halftime, and the Patriots led by as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter before taking down a 77-49 conference victory that sets up an intriguing Tuesday evening Senior Night contest at Fidelity Bank Arena against Valley View.

Valley View is leading the 5A East with two games remaining with an 11-1 conference mark, with Marion and Nettleton just behind the Blazers with identical 10-2 5A East marks.

A Marion victory on Tuesday would potentially force a three-way tie for first place in the 5A East depending on Nettleton’s Monday game against West Memphis and Tuesday’s contest against Paragould.

The Patriots pulled away from the Pioneers by making 10 of 16 shots from the floor in the second quarter, while Batesville made just 1 of its 9 attempts with 8 turnovers in the same span as MHS claimed a 35-15 lead at halftime.

Marion improved to 22-6 overall and 10-2 in the 5A East behind Jalen Neal’s 24 points and five rebounds, while Kayden Littlejohn hit for 12 points, and Dexter Higgins, Jr. finished with 10 points, four assists, and three steals.

Batesville put three players into double-digits, led by Rafael Thomas’s 15 points, while Ransom Dunlap pumped in 13, and Kalon Johnson finished with 11.

For the game, Marion connected on 31 of 48 field goals (65 percent), while Batesville hit 18 of 40 attempts with 17 turnovers. Marion won the rebounding battle 31-15.

Batesville made 3 of 5 three-pointers in the first quarter, including a Thomas triple that tied the game at 11 that beat the first-quarter buzzer.

Marion responded by making 10 of 16 shots from the floor in the second stanza, with Littlejohn chipping in 7 points in the second alone, as the Patriots pushed ahead 35-15 at the break.

The Patriot advantage hit 59-35 after 3 quarters, and MHS led 77-47 with less than a minute left in regulation to trigger the sportsmanship rule.

5A East results from 2/21

Marion 77, Batesville 49 Valley View 59, Greene Co. Tech 53 Searcy 69, Paragould 50 West Memphis 59, Nettleton 51

5A East standings

■ ■ Valley View 11-1*

■ ■ Marion 10-2*

■ ■ Nettleton 9-3*

■ ■ West Memphis 7-5

■ ■ Greene Co. Tech 6-6

■ ■ Paragould 3-9

■ ■ Batesville 1-11

■ ■ Searcy 1-11 *Clinched state tournament spot Top four teams make state tournament March 4-8 at Greene Co. Tech.

Marion guard Karlyal “Duck” Hyland (24) finishes a layup during his team’s win Saturday afternoon at Batesville.

Photo by Eryn Edwards