MORAN — Marmaton Valley High School’s junior varsity boys and girls played Northeast High School of Arma Tuesday night. Marmaton Valley came away with the sweep. The girls won 40-24. The boys won 41-38 in overtime.
The girls jumped to a 20-7 lead at halftime. Good shot selection and great shooting by Payton Scharff were key to the Marmaton Valley lead. Scharff scored six points in the first half. Marmaton Valley sent Kendall Scharff, one of its captains, to the free-throw line twice in the first quarter. Scharff made both to assist in fueling the Wildcats’ run. Marmaton Valley was short-handed, having only eight girls available.
Northeast mounted a comeback in the third quarter thanks to good shooting, and the ability to take advantage of free-throw opportunities. Northeast outscored Marmaton Valley 11-8 in the third. The Wildcats still led 28-18.
Marmaton Valley’s shooters came back to life in the fourth quarter. Payton Scharff made three free throws and a few short baskets in the paint to help seal the deal for the Wildcats.
Payton Scharff scored 13 points. Janae Granere scored 12. Aly Ard scored six. Kendall Scharff scored four. Pauline Thery scored three. Tayven Sutton scored two.
“They came back on us a little bit in the third quarter,” said Marmaton Valley head coach Becky Carlson. “We got in a little bit of foul trouble. Overall, I was very, very pleased. We really shut them down.”
Marmaton Valley plays again on Thursday against Madison.
THE BOYS struggled at the start of the game, not able to sink shots and allowing Northeast to score seemingly at will. Jordan Granere led the way for the Wildcats in the first quarter, scoring the only points on a three-pointer and a bucket in the paint. The Wildcats found themselves in foul trouble, and Northeast capitalized on the chances. Northeast led 22-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Marmaton Valley roared to life in the second quarter. Jaedon Granere continued to be efficient shooting the ball. Bryce Ensminger came to life in the second quarter, scoring eight of Marmaton Valley’s 19 points in the quarter. Despite the efforts of the Wildcats, Northeast clung to a 28-24 lead at the half.
Granere and Ensminger fell cold in the third quarter but Marmaton Valley got help from Lane Smith and Daniel Fewins, each scoring a bucket to help keep the Wildcats in the game. Northeast held a four-point lead at the end of the quarter, 32-28. Marmaton Valley came into the fourth quarter needing to get the job done, and they did. The Wildcats got help from Evan Kent to tie the game up and send it to overtime. Once in overtime, Marmaton Valley shot the ball better than Northeast and pulled out the win, thanks in part to Kody McVey’s four points in overtime.
Granere had 13 points. Ensminger had eight points. Kent had six points. Fewins had five points. McVey had four points.
Marmaton Valley plays again on Thursday against Madison.
