Tigers edge Flyers

MARIA STEIN - When it came down to crunch time, Marion Local couldn't buy a bucket.

Inside the final four minutes, the Flyers had four consecutive possessions with a chance to take the lead or tie the game, and they came up empty each time. As a result, Versailles was able to hang on for a 38-34 Midwest Athletic Conference victory Friday night at the Hangar.

It was the season-opener for the football-delayed Flyers, while Versailles improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the MAC.

And while Marion Local coach Kurt Goettemoeller hinted that his offense might be a little rusty, he felt the defense was in midseason form.

"We wanted to work really, really hard defensively because that's what we hang our hat on in this program," he said. "I told the guys we were super pleased with the effort tonight. To hold that team to 38 points with one of the best players in the area in Michael Stammen, I thought we played a whale of a game defensively."

"We got shots that we wanted to get in the second half, and by the guys we wanted shooting them," Goettemoeller continued. "They just did not go in. And that was the difference in the game."

The Flyers, coming off a state championship in football, played like it was still football season as the game got underway. Marion was whistled for six personal fouls before getting its first points on the board.

As a result the Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held on to a 12-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

"We were too handsy," Goettemoeller said. "In football they teach you to put hands on guys, shed blocks and stuff like that. Basketball is the exact opposite. We have to retrain their thought process, and that takes time."

Marion eventually found some offensive rhythm, scoring the first six points of the second quarter to take its first lead of the game, 13-12.

The lead then went back and forth before the Tigers ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a 21-18 advantage into the break.

Versailles opened the second half with a 7-2 run, and appeared to have the Flyers on the ropes with a 28-20 lead at the 3:25 mark of the third quarter.

But Marion Local had an answer. Alex Klosterman and Bryce Moeller hit three-point shots sandwiched around a bucket by Alex Eyink to tie the score at 28.

Stammen regained some much-needed momentum for the Tigers with a twisting layup-and-one in the final seconds of the third quarter for a 31-28 Versailles lead heading into the final eight minutes.

With 5:51 left in the game, Matt Everman scored inside the paint to pull the Flyers to within one, 33-32.

Versailles did not score another field goal the rest of the way, but Marion couldn't capitalize. The Tigers hit four of five free throws in the final 45 seconds to put the game away.

"They got up on us a couple of times, but we just hung in there and made some stops," Goettemoeller said. "We don't worry about the score. We just keep fighting, keep fighting, and then in the last two minutes we'll try and figure it out. That's what we did tonight. We just didn't make the plays we needed to get the win."

Klosterman led the Flyers off the bench with eight points. Everman and Charles Huelsman contributed seven points each. Connor VanSkyock paced Versailles with 15 points.

Marion Local will face another undefeated team at the Hangar tonight as the 7-0 Shawnee Indians come to town.