Patriots win big in Cabot Classic
Marion basketball teams staying busy during Christmas break
By CHUCK LIVINGSTON
Marion School District
The Marion boys basketball team seems to be rounding into shape just in time for the new year and league action.
Over the weekend, the Patriots won three games in three days at the Cabot Classic, picking off Lake Hamilton, Collierville (TN.), and Cabot in succession.
The Pats topped Lake Hamilton 46-34 in the opening round of the tournament behind Mikell Lewis’s gamehigh 14 points, while Zayden Walker chipped in seven points, Chandler Randle added five, and Dexter Higgins contributed four.
Marion then topped mighty Collierville 58-48 behind LaDaryl Robinson’s 19 points, 15 from Randle, and 10 from Lewis, while Jackson Black, Rylan Johnson, and Walker each hit for three.
The Pats cemented their run in Cabot with a win over the hosts on Saturday afternoon with a 48-30 victory as Lewis poured in 15 points, while Robinson poured in 11, and Randle finished with seven.
Playing on the road Tuesday night, Marion succumbed to arguably Class 6A’s top team, the Jonesboro Golden Hurricane 54-34. Despite the loss, Marion got 12 from Randle, nine from Lewis, and eight from Robinson.
Holiday Hoops
The Marion basketball teams will stay busy during the holiday break, and you can keep up with the boys and girls teams no matter where you are.
The Marion girls team will play Kankakee, Illinois on Saturday, December 21 in Murray, Kentucky, on the campus of the Murray State Racers. You can watch this 2:30 p.m. contest on the Murray Bank Hardwood Classic Facebook page.
The girls then play three games over three days in the 73rd annual Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville, Texas December 26-28. Marion plays Kinkaid at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 26, and the other two game times will be decided based on the Lady Pats winning or losing. You can watch all three Marion girls basketball games at the Sandra Meadows Classic at https://passthaballlive.com/ category/live-events/sandra- meadows-classic-24/.
The Marion boys look to continue their good run to end 2024, beginning Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21, when the Patriots travel to Springdale to play two games in the 2024 Bulldog Classic.
You can watch Marion play Bentonville at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 20 and the Patriots take on Springdale at 1:30 on Saturday, December 21 on the Springdale Athletic Foundation YouTube channel: https://www.youtube. com/@SpringdaleAF.
Marion caps a busy holiday basketball schedule December 26-28 at the Bad Boy Mowers Ronnie Brogdon Classic. The Pats open bracket play at 3 p.m., Thursday, December 26 against Forsyth, Mo., and the other two contests will be dictated depending on whether the Pats win or lose.
You can watch the Bad Boy Mowers Ronnie Brogdon Classic on the Bad Boy Mowers Ronnie Brogdon Classic Facebook page.
Following the holiday tournaments, the Marion basketball teams will be idle until Friday, January 10, when the Patriots open league action at West Memphis in a doubleheader that will be broadcast beginning at 5 p.m. on the Marion Patriots Activities Network.
The 2024-2025 Marion boys basketball team poses with their trophy on Saturday after winning the 2024 Cabot Classic. Marion topped Lake Hamilton, Collierville (TN.), and Cabot to earn the crown.
Submitted photo
