Both Pioneer teams had one thing on their mind Tuesday night at Pioneer Gymnasium and that was playing the spoiler to the Marion Patriots. Both Marion teams would enter the evening second in the standings and though both Pioneers are near the opposite side of the rankings, they gave Marion all they could handle.
In the opener, the Lady Pioneers put together their best minutes of basketball on the season as they came out firing and would lead the Lady Patriots after the first quarter by five behind six Olivia Everetts points. In the second, the Lady Patriots would claw back into the game, but the Lady Pioneers would still lead at the half 25 to 24, officially putting Marion on upset alert. The Lady Patriots would respond with a vengeance in the second half as they would put up 20 third quarter points and take a ten-point advantage over the Lady Pioneers heading into the final frame. Marion would extend their lead in the fourth and would defeat the Lady Pioneers by a final of 56 to 39.
Leading Batesville in scoring was once again senior Taylor Rush with 15 points. Everetts would add eight points, senior Emily Harrison, junior Abby Hurley, and Sophomore Salice Speed would chip in 4 points apiece, and seniors Zharia Childress and Camya Porter would tack on 2 points apiece.
In the nightcap, the Pioneers would almost stun the Patriots in the opening few minutes as they would score the first four points. After slowing the ballgame down, the Patriots would turn up the defense, holding the Pioneers to just one more point in the quarter and Marion would open up an eight-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Pioneers offensive struggles would once again strike in the second as they would add just four points in the quarter and Marion would extend their lead to 16 at the half. The Patriots would never look back in the second half defeating the Pioneers 53 to 27.
Just one Pioneer would score in double digits as senior Logan McSpadden would lead the Pioneers with 12 points. Adding to the scoring total was freshman Talen Foree with five points all coming in the fourth quarter, senior JT Morgan would add four points, and juniors Cory Cothrine, Jeremiah Strickland, and sophomore Kade Barber would add in two points apiece.
Both Pioneer teams will now return to the hardwood on Friday night with a road trip to take on the Nettleton Raiders. Senior girls action will tip-off around 6 p.m. with the senior boys to follow and can be heard on 93 KZLE, online at WhiteRiverNow.com, and on the White River Now mobile app.
Article by Wes Gwaltney, The Voice of Pioneer Basketball on 93 KZLE.
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