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Our Turn: Lady Marauders latest Marcus hoops team headed to regionals
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
IRVING — For the fourth consecutive year, Marcus will be represented at a UIL Class 5A Region I Basketball Tournament.
But for the first time since 1998, the Lady Marauders will be the ones in Fort Worth.
Morgan Easley gave Marcus’ girls the lead on the opening possession of the second quarter and the Lady Marauders clung to the advantage until the final seconds expired in a 53-50 victory over Mansfield Timberview at MacArthur High School.
Jones also credited Marcus’ defensive effort, which was never more critical than in the final quarter, as Marcus maintained its 3-point margin despite converting just two field goals and shooting 12-of-23 from the free throw line.
“It felt like we were scrambling all night to catch up,” said Kit Martin, Timberview head coach. “You have to give Marcus credit. They came out strong and hit shots. And we weren’t making them. But give us credit for continuing to fight and get back in it.”
It was Martin who manned the bench the last time the Lady Marauders advanced to regionals (in both 97 and 98). The latter ended with a loss against Lubbock Coronado; Marcus’ semifinal opponent Friday at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center.
Vanessa Jones scored 10 of her team-high 15 points in the second half for Marcus, including an and-1 from Jenna Davis off the push that seemed to put the Lady Marauders in control at 47-40 with 1:51 remaining.
The lead would grow to nine, but Timberview held close and had one last gasp when a 3-pointer banked in from Aurmani DeGar slicing the lead to two. After Ashley James hit 1-of-2 at the line, Timberview had 4.5 seconds remaining to tie but couldn’t get off a shot.
Davis finished with a team-high nine rebounds and six points , as did Easley — saddled with foul trouble from the first quarter — and Ashley James.
The point guard kept a working margin for the Lady Marauders in the third quarter with a pair of driving layups and two assists.
James also had five boards, but it was her effort on the defensive end that carried Marcus as she limited TImberview point guard Lili Thompson to six points on just 3-of-16 shooting and one trip to the free throw line.
“Lili is great, but the heart of our team is Ashley James,” Fred said. “She took the assignment and ran with it. All year though, that’s what she stands for. She’s the emotional leader for our team and we said ‘hey, you got Lili tonight, go to work.’ And she stepped up to the challenge.”
Throughout the second half as the Lady Wolves attempted to rally, Thompson and the Lady Wolves resorted to forcing perimeter shots into the extended arms of Marcus’ defense. For the game, the Lady Marauders knocked down five threes against four for the Lady Wolves but attempted 13 fewer.
Terriell Bradley led Timberview with 14 points, while Jalea Bennett had 10.
“Both teams have great shooters, but we knew this game was going to be decided in the paint,” Fred said.
After spotting Timberview an early 11-4 lead, Marcus gained confidence throughout the first half spearheaded by the shooting of Sierra Bone and Alex Lapeyrolerie.
A pair of 3-pointers by Bone began what was a 9-0 run for Marcus to end the first quarter and later in the second, Lapeyrolerie capped a 13-0 spurt with a three of her own before canning a jumper in the finals second to send the Lady Marauders to the break up, 28-21.
“Those were two huge momentum lifts,” Fred said. “We always talk about big-mo showing up, and those two girls all year have sacrificed coming off the bench when they’re unbelievable players. Because of their selflessness we are here.”
Coronado — ranked No. 5 and coming off a 62-48 win Tuesday over Southlake Carroll — awaits Marcus at 6 p.m. Friday in Fort Worth.
The squads previously met Nov. 10 at the Frisco ISD Tip-Off Classic with the Lady Marauders coming up short, 33-31.
But Marcus enters this contest coming off consecutive wins over state-ranked opponents, including a Timberview team it previously lost to by one point.
The Lady Marauders also witnessed their basketball counterparts win each of the past three boys regional tournaments.
“That’s huge,” Fred said. “Coach Henderson is one of our mentors and he still comes and talks to the team. What they did, for our girls to see it with kids on our hallways, makes a big difference to know it can be done here.”
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