Marion girls repeat at final Cougar Classic
Staff writers
Marion won repeated as champion of the final Cougar Classic tournament Friday while Hillsboro’s final tournament day was postponed until this Saturday.
The Warrior girls will be the last team to ever be crowned at the Cougar Classic.
“We set a goal at the beginning of the season to be back-to-back Cougar Classic champions, and the girls played to our identity all week, and it was so fun watching them reach that goal,” coach Jason Hett said. “We are disappointed that this was the last year of this tournament as we have enjoyed attending.”
In their first game of the season, in December the Warriors lost to the Bluebirds in overtime, but Marion got its rematch and revenge Friday, winning 40-35 in overtime.
“We knew this was going to be a grind-it-out kind of game,” Hett said. “Goessel is well coached and plays hard, but I’m proud of the way our group came out to play.”
Dylan Kraus led Marion with 20 points scored, four rebounds, and four steals.
“We had to battle through some foul trouble, but we had girls step up and play with confidence which was good to see,” Hett said. “Centre does a great job hosting this tournament, and it is well run, and I appreciate Tim Vinduska up at Centre so much for the work that he does to make this tournament possible.”
Marion girls will be at home this Thursday against Council Grove.
“The girls were pretty excited to go down as the last champions of this tournament,” Hett said. “Something that we will remember for a long, long time.”
The Goessel girls made it to Friday’s finals in a come-from-behind victory Thursday over Douglas.
Douglass led 15-7 at the end of one quarter and 28-23 at halftime.
The Bluebirds kept grinding it out on defense and trailed 34-30 at the end of three quarters.
“Slow start. Got down 12 points early,” coach Ryan Hoopes said. “Didn’t take our first lead until about 1:30 to go in the game.”
Goessel exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter to win 50-44.
Delaney Duerksen led the team with 16 points.
In the championship game on Friday, the lead changed five times.
“They are a very scrappy team, and Coach Hett always has them ready to go,” Hoopes said.
Goessel trailed 12-10 at the end of one quarter and 23-20 at half-time.
The Bluebirds scored five straight points to snatch a brief lead in the third period but trailed 33-27 at the break.
The Bluebirds got within three with a minute left in the game, but the Warriors secured the win 40-35.
“It was a hard-fought championship game that could have went either way,” Hoopes said. “I was very proud of our effort and plays made throughout the game.”
Delaney Duerksen scored 10 points, all in the second half, to lead the Bluebirds.
The Goessel girls are now 7-5 and celebrate homecoming on Friday with Sedgwick 5-8.
Hillsboro
The final day of games in Hillsboro’s tournament were postponed to this Saturday because of weather.
Hillsboro girls opened up the tournament with a 48-28 loss to Sacred Heart but bounced back on Friday against Clay Center, winning 40-26.
“I was pleased with our efforts after not playing well on Tuesday,” coach Micah Ratzlaff said. “The team showed up and played with good energy and toughness.”
The Trojans were to play their final tournament game Monday against Riley County on Monday, but this game is now on for 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
“Which will be a quick turnaround from our Friday night matchup on the road against Minneapolis,” Ratzlaff said.
Centre
The Cougar girls placed sixth out of eight teams over the weekend at their final Cougar Classic. Centre opened up the tournament with a loss against Douglass. On Thursday, Centre beat Peabody-Burns. On Friday, Centre lost to Herington 31-21.
Centre will be back in action at home this Friday against Canton-Galva.
Peabody-Burns
The Warriors placed seventh out of eight teams at the Cougar Classic.
The Warriors lost opening night against Goessel and lost on Day 2 against Centre but fought hard on Day 3 against Wakefield, winning 33-30.
Peabody-Burns’s next game will be Tuesday against Rural Vista.