Marion Caps Unbeaten Season With 4A Championship

Marion has so many players who can score, it's hard to guard 'em all.

That's why the Indians are the Class 4A state champions.

Top-ranked Marion unleashed another barrage of 3-point baskets and capped an unbeaten season by beating No. 3 Grinnell 69-48 to claim its first state title at the Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament in Des Moines Friday night (March 3, 2018).

Marion won all three of its state tournament games by double figures and along the way, set a tournament record by making

36 pointers. The Indians were 13 of 29 from long range in the final and five players knocked down at least one trey.

The old record for 3s was 30 by Pocahontas Area last year.

The Marion players also kept their composure against a team that has thrived on pressing and getting steals. The Indians committed only five turnovers and often got open shots by breaking the press.

Freshman Riley Wright and sophomore Kayba Laube each scored 16 points to lead the Indians, who finish 26-0. Laube hit four 3-pointers, while Wright was 6-for-9 overall with a trio of 3s.

Randi Wright added 10 points for Marion, Caitlyn Smith scored nine and Chloe had six.

Grinnell's Sienna Durr finished off an outstanding tournament with 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Durr, who'll attend Columbia University in the Ivy League, scored 70 points in her three tournament games and shot 71 percent (27-for-38).

Naoami Jackson added 11 points for Grinnell, which finished 23-3, and Kameron Moore scored seven.

Marion forces defenses to cover a lot of ground by spreading the floor. That creates open shots and the Indians have the shooters to capitalize.

Grinnell led until a flurry at the end of the first half put Marion ahead for good. The Indians hit three 3-pointers in a 13-4 burst that produced a 29-22 halftime lead, and another big run stretched the lead to 47-31 early in the fourth quarter.

After that, it was only a matter of time until the Indians could start celebrating.

Laube was voted captain of the all-tournament team. She was joined by Rice, Durr, Jackson, Madison Dreckman of Le Mars and Allison Wooldridge of Center Point-Urbana.

Story Courtesy of IGHSAU

Class 4A All-Tournament Team - Selected by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association