BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — In a game where neither team led by more than five points for the first 29 minutes of play, No. 4 North Marion secured one of their most impressive victories of the season in a 63-52 triumph at defending Class AAA state champion No. 3 Bridgeport.
With the win, the Huskies improved to 15-2, while collecting their eighth consecutive victory.
“These are the moments you live for,” said North Marion head coach Steven Harbert. “These are the games you want to be in to grow as a player. I have all the faith in the world in every guy that we play.”
Both teams scored 16 points in each of the first two quarters and the game was tied at 32 heading into halftime. Momentum began to shift towards the Huskies late in the third quarter. A 10-2 run to end the frame allowed North Marion to take a 46-41 lead heading into the final stanza.
“I felt like we allowed them to have too many offensive rebounds in the first half. That was a point of emphasis in the pregame. So I was a little upset about that. That was kind of the motivating speech at halftime. I felt like we limited their possessions in the second half. We just guarded well.”
The Huskies controlled the pace of play early in the fourth quarter with junior guards Eli Ramsey and Connor Balwanz leading deliberate possessions. Leading 49-48 with 4:30 to play, North Marion began a game-sealing 14-0 run. Ramsey and Maddox Batson each had multiple baskets in the decisive run.
“I feel like we have done a good job as a staff of growing these guys and helping to mold them into better players and to better people. Connor and Eli did a wonderful job down the stretch of handling the ball. That’s what you’ve got to have. You’ve got to have great guard play if you want to get to Charleston. I am proud of those boys and the rest of the team. It wasn’t just them. It was a team effort overall.”
Ramsey led all scorers with 19 points. Jacob Kucish scored 13 points and Batson added 11.
Unbeaten in Big 12 Conference play and without a loss against Class AAA opponents, North Marion is in line for a high seed should they qualify for the state tournament.
“When I took the job, I had a vision that this is what we wanted to be like. But for it to come to reality with the players that we have and how they just work, it is just a proud moment. It is what you want to be in, man. We have been to Charleston three times. We went down there as like a seven or an eight seed. That’s tough. Our goal was to win the Big 10 and get to Charleston.”
Anderson McDougal led the Indians (14-4) with 18 points while Aryon Dodd added 13 points.