Marion Athletics -

With five games to play, the Marion Lady Patriots have overcome some long preseason odds to remain in playoff contention.

Behind the smallest senior class of recent memory, including just one senior starter, Jordyn Wilkerson, the Lady Patriots would be in the state tournament if the season ended today.

On Tuesday evening against Nettleton, Marion had a chance to solidify its hold on the coveted No. 4 seed from the 5A east, but the Lady Raiders proved to be too much in a 63-41 victory inside Fidelity Bank Arena.

Marion got a game-high 24 points from junior Summer Morgan and seven from classmate Maliya Stallings, and four from freshman Cortlyn Brown.

Nettleton's Tori Cunningham scored 21 points, 11 from Takylah Marshall, and 10 from Kaedyn Hardaway.

Three-pointers from Morgan and Stallings gave Marion leads at 3-2 and 6-4, respectively, in the first period on Tuesday evening, but Nettleton earned a 14-10 advantage to open the second quarter.

A Stallings layup with 6:20 left in the second tied the score at 14 apiece, and a Laniya Crayton gave Marion a 16-14 lead with 5:55 left in the frame, but it would be Marion's last lead as the Lady Raiders opened up a 30-21 halftime lead.

Nettleton took its first double-digit lead (31-21) early in the third period.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion continues 5A East play with a road trip Friday evening to Searcy. The girls varsity contest will tip off around 6 p.m., followed by the boys game around 7:30 p.m., and you can watch both varsity games for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 2/10
Nettleton 63, Marion 41
Greene Co. Tech 67, Searcy 22
Valley View 63, Paragould 45
Batesville 68, W. Memphis 35

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 2/12
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Greene Co. Tech 9-0
Nettleton 8-1
Valley View 7-2
Marion 4-5
Batesville 4-5
Paragould 3-6
Searcy 1-8
W. Memphis 0-9
Top four teams make state tournament at Farmington.

5A EAST GAMES ON 2/13
Marion at Searcy
Greene Co. Tech at Nettleton
Valley View at W. Memphis
Batesville at Paragould