MORAN — Marmaton Valley High School’s boys were unable to emerge from a two-week slump when they faced Cherokee-Southeast on Monday night. The Wildcats lost 70-42
A plethora of turnovers led to a deep hole for the Wildcats early. Marmaton Valley couldn’t get out of their own way and quickly saw Southeast gain a 13-0 lead before they scored late in the first quarter. Carter Burton broke through to score and the Wildcats went on a short 4-1 run to help pull the lead back a bit.
The Wildcat defense helped hold Southeast at bay for a little while so Marmaton Valley could cut the lead to 17-8 but from there, Southeast dominated. Drake Guymon and Easton Renn combined for 16 of the Lancers’ 22 points in the second quarter and helped Southeast build a massive 42-20 halftime lead.
Things weren’t much better for the Wildcats after the break. Renn got nine points in the third and helped the Lancers build a 34-point lead late in the third.
A running clock in the fourth helped to speed up the inevitable and Southeast cruised down the stretch.
Marmaton Valley was able to put together some nice offense late, with Burton and Jaedon Granere scoring six apiece in the fourth but it was too little, far too late. The damage had already been done by hands down the best team in the league.
“We knew this was a really good team,” said Marmaton Valley head coach Gavin Cole. “They get after it and don’t make any pass easy. We knew if we turned the ball over, we were going to give up easy baskets on the other end and that’s what happened early in the game.”
Burton led the way with 11 points. Granere and Wyatt Ard both had 10. Dredon Ellis had eight. Dylan Drake had four. Bryce Ensminger had two. Garrett Henderson had one.
Marmaton Valley’s junior varsity lost 47-32. Daniel Fewins had nine points. Ellis and Brayden Lawson both had six. Dominic Smith had four. Chase Smith had three. Ensminger and Kody McVey had one each.
Marmaton Valley is 3-9 and back in action tonight against Northeast-Arma.
