by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
The Marion boys basketball team proved it was worthy of staying in the championship conversation in the West Michigan ‘D’ League on Tuesday. Hosting league-foe Brethren, the Eagles jumped to a lead after the first quarter and played their way to a 50-35 victory.
“Start to finish we played a solid four quarters of defense,” head coach Dan Michell said. “Gavin Prielipp was all over the place with five steals and Braden Prielipp did a nice job inside on Brethren’s 6’7 big; he only scored four points.”
Marion was able to claim a 17-10 lead after the first quarter and led 28-19 at the half and 40-25 entering the fourth.
Coley Meyer led the team with 17 points and four assists, Gavin Prielipp netted 14 points, and also had five rebounds and five steals and Mason Salisbury added 10 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
“Freshmen Collin McCrimmon was a nice spark of the bench along with senior Weston Cox leading the defense with three Charges taken,” Michell said. “Mason Salisbury is our steady; he continues to almost put up double-double numbers nightly along with defending the opponents best player and taking care of the ball for us. Cole finished with a solid game and continues to impress on the court. Quinn Scott coming back from ankle injury helped us dictate the flow of the game and keep our turnovers down. We are headed in the right direction.”
On Thursday, Jan. 5 Marion played a WMD contest at Manistee Catholic Central, and they were able to win that one as well, 43-24.
“Our offense wasn’t pretty, but our defense allowed us to take care of business,” Michell said. “Cox and gage baker gave us a nice spark off the bench.”
Marion was able to take a 10-2 lead after the opening frame and led 19-8 and 30-16 after the second and third quarters.
Meyer led the team with 11 points and seven rebounds, B. Prielipp had 10 points and eight rebounds, Salisbury finished with nine points and nine rebounds, G. Prielipp chipped in with five points and Baker netted four.
Marion (5-2 overall, 4-1 WMD) was at home against Mason County Eastern on Thursday and hosts Mesick this coming Thursday in a key league match-up.