CHEROKEE — Marmaton Valley High’s girls clamped down on defense Thursday, and came out with a victory.
The Wildcats held host Southeast High without a field goal in the fourth quarter, and only eight points after halftime.
The stellar defensive effort allowed Marmaton Valley to erase a six-point halftime deficit and win, 33-27.
After an 0-3 start to the season — the Wildcats were unable to do much of any preseason work because of COVID-19 — Marmaton Valley is 3-3 since returning from Christmas break.
Thursday’s victory was a microcosm of the season, a slow start and strong finish.
Southeast led 9-6 after one period and 19-13 at halftime.
Marmaton Valley’s Aly Ard drained a 3-pointer in the third quarter to give the Wildcats a one-point lead before the Lancers responded with a bucket to take a 25-24 lead into the fourth quarter.
Tara Granere scored on a putback to put the Wildcats on top, 26-25, early in the fourth quarter.
Kayla Ard’s jumper midway through the period pushed the margin to fourth, and Aly Ard’s layup on an inbound play with 1:45 left gave MV full control.
Southeast’s Railey Robertson hit a pair of free throws to give Southeast a glimmer of hope, but the Wildcats responded promptly with a long pass to Granere, who scored on a layup to put the game out of reach.
Kaylee Becker’s free throw for MV in the waning seconds capped the scoring.
Granere led the way with 15 points, followed by Aly Ard with seven and Kayla Ard with six.
Robertson scored 11 to pace Southeast.
The Wildcats also hosted St. Paul Friday, too late for press time for today’s newspaper. Marmaton Valley travels to Lebo Tuesday and Yates Center on Friday.
Marmaton Valley (6-7-11-9—33) (FG/3pt): P. Scharff 0-1-0-1, Kegler 0-0-1-0, Sutton 0-1-1-1, K. Ard 3-0-3-6, K. Scharff 0-0-3-0, A. Ard 2/1-0-3-7, Granere 5-5-2-15, Becker 1-1-2-3. TOTALS: 11/1-8-15-33.
Southeast (9-10-6-2—27) (FG/3pt): Jacobs 0/1-0-1-3, Tavernero 1-0-1-2, POwers 2-0-2-4, Vinson 0-0-3-0, Haynes 0-4-1-4, Cassidy 0-1-2-1, Robertson 1/2-3-3-11, Bitner 1-0-2-2. TOTALS: 5/3-4-15-27.
