Marion defense contains Russellville in quarterfinal win

By Kyle Sutherland I Photos by Ted McClenning

SHERIDAN - Marion made it clear from the beginning what its game plan was in its 49-46 victory over Russellville Thursday at Yellowjacket Arena. The Patriots wanted to stop Cyclones star senior guard Donyae May. May was coming off a 29-point performance in a first-round victory over Jacksonville and even though he finished as the Cyclones’ leading scorer, it was clear the Patriots were frustrating him.

The start of the game was very fast-paced as the Patriots got out to a 6-4 lead before May connected from 3-point range with 3:31 remaining in the first to give the Cyclones their first lead of the game.

From there the rest of the first quarter, and a large portion of the game, belonged to junior shooting guard Ryan Forrest as he scored seven of the final nine points in the quarter for the Patriots.

Forrest added five in the second quarter allowing Marion (18-5) to take a 20-13 lead at halftime.

Up ten with 55 seconds remaining in the third, it was a scary scene for Marion fans when Forrest got up limping, but he appeared to be okay for the remainder of the game.

Going into the fourth quarter down 34-23, the Cyclones (22-8) were able to cut it to 39-37 following a technical on Marion Coach David Clark which gave Russellville some momentum to work with.

The Patriots spent most of their time in the fourth quarter at the free throw line but did not have their best night from there shooting just 67%. However, getting to the line consistently proved to be a major factor as each point would consistently help them counter any basket Russellville had just scored.

Russellville was able to get back in it late with less than two minutes remaining, once again down by just four, but the Patriots denied them and were able to survive and advance.

Many of the current Marion players who were on last year’s team got a brief experience of the state tournament last season but got sent home quickly and that left a bitter taste in their mouth.

“Our guys have been resilient this year,” Clark told the Arkansas Sports Network postgame. “We played in this situation last year when we lost in the first round to Maumelle so I got my guys back and they just did not want to give up and go home so they played hard enough to keep us here.”

Forrest led all scorers in the game with 22 and Terrion Burgess added 9.

May led Russellville with 19 and Sims added 17.

Marion will play the winner of Parkview/Lake Hamilton Saturday at 1:30.

Sylvan Hills 47 Siloam Springs 39

Once the Bears started the game with back-to-back threes from Trey Tippen and Da Carter Coleman, they never gave up the lead despite a strong effort from Siloam Springs (20-7) to take it. Sylvan Hills (15-11) played solid defense leading 12-6 after one, 26-15 at halftime, and 37-25 after three. Siloam did cut the Bears’ lead to five twice later in the fourth, but Sylvan Hills was able to hit a few free throws as well as hit a couple of shots with under two minutes to play.

Tippen led all scorers with 14 points while Shamar Womack added 13 for the Bears.

Josh Stewart led Siloam Springs with 11.

Sylvan Hills will face defending champions Jonesboro in today’s nightcap at 8:30.

Vilonia 70 Maumelle 60

In possibly the biggest upset of the tournament so far, Vilonia (16-8) defeated Maumelle (23-5) using a keep-away method along with getting the Hornets into foul trouble which the Eagles essentially executed to perfection. Vilonia got out to a quick 5-0 lead before there was a brief pause to fix a malfunctioning scoreboard and led 15-7 after a quarter. 

University of Arkansas football signee Nico Davillier, who has been a productive post for the Hornets all year, made his return Thursday checking in at the end of the first quarter after sitting out the last few games due to injury. He made an impact once he shook the rust off, but sophomore Deshaun Spence got the better of him Thursday.

Down 51-41 with 5:44 left in the game, Spence fouled out and it gave Maumelle a sense of confidence because he had been having his way in the paint all afternoon. Despite Spence being out, the Hornets were never able to cut the lead by more than nine points and they end their season with an early exit from the state tournament following a runner-up finish last year.

Spence led the Eagles with 18 points right ahead of senior Austin Myers who had 17. Myers tweaked his ankle in the middle of the third quarter and was clearly uncomfortable the rest of the day. He was carried off the court to the bench after the game but was walking shortly after.

Kaleb Thurman led Maumelle with 27.

Vilonia will play Pine Bluff Friday at 5:30.