Lady Patriots win Trojan Invitational
Marion girls repeat as champs in Hot Springs tournament
By CHUCK LIVINGSTON
Marion School District
CONWAY — The Marion Lady Patriot basketball team seems to have found its groove in the latter stages of December.
Over the weekend, Marion won three games in three days to repeat as Hot Springs Trojan Invitational tournament champs, topping Malvern, Pea Ridge, and Beebe en route to the crown.
Tuesday night, Marion continued a non-conference series with Conway, losing 62-50 to the Class 6A powerhouse.
Marion (8-4 overall) opened its run in the Spa City last Thursday with a dominant 72-42 victory over Malvern, led by 14 points apiece from Jada Cheers and Jalee Meeks, 12 from Summer Morgan, and nine from Jordyn Wilkerson.
The Lady Pats led Malvern 18-9 after the _rst quarter, 3722 at halftime, and 59-31 after three quarters.
Marion punched its ticket back to the Trojan Invitational with a 54-48 semi_nal victory over Pea Ridge, as Madison Glaspie led the way with 11 points, while Cheers andAyanna Hayes added 10 apiece, and Wilkerson _nished with nine.
The Lady Pats rallied in the second half against the Lady Blackhawks after trailing 2721 at halftime.
Marion continued to rally in the _nal against Beebe, trailing 15-6 after the opening quarter, 25-21 at halftime, and 41–40 entering the _nal, frantic fourth quarter.
The Lady Pats clinched the crown for the second year in a row behind Joniya “Red” Lewis’s 17 points, 11 from Cheers, 10 from Glaspie, eight from Morgan, and six from Hayes.
Marion trailed at Conway by as many as 22 points on Tuesday night, but got within 10 points in the fourth quarter as Lewis, Hayes, Glaspie, and Morgan all hit for 10 points apiece.
The Lady Patriots return home on Friday when they host Bartlett, Tennessee for a junior varsity/varsity contest that begins at 5 p.m.
You can watch the Marion- Bartlett game on Marion-Patriots.com, on the MPAN YouTube channel, or on the MPAN mobile app.
The 2024-2025 Marion girls basketball team poses with the Hot Springs Trojan Invitational championship trophy on Saturday afternoon after besting Beebe in the final.
Submitted photo
