By JOHN ROARK
john.roark@register-news.com
HERRIN — With Marion presenting so much size to contend with, the Mt. Vernon Township High School boys basketball team had to pick its poison in Friday night’s Pyramid Plus Tournament matchup.
The Rams chose Troy Stucky, or at least the opportunity presented itself for the Wildcats junior guard to make a big play.
With the game tied at 31-all, Stucky rose off the dribble and buried a 3-point jump shot from the top of the key with 4:14 remaining. MVTHS (2-2) never recovered in a 47-39 loss to its South Seven Conference rival.
Struggling to defend 6-foot-6 Aaron Adeoye and 6-5 Bryan Waldrop in the low post, Scott Gamber’s Rams allowed Stucky to make a big play with victory hanging in the balance.
Marion improved to 4-0 in the tournament, but must defeat Williamson County rival Herrin (3-1) tonight to win the event.
Herrin stunned Massac County 63-50 in Friday’s late game. The Patriots are also 2-2, while Salem is 1-3 and Memphis River City stands at 0-4.
Mt. Vernon was able to keep the game close with its defense. Using double-teams against Adeoye and Waldrop, the Wildcats managed just nine points in the paint in the first half.
Trailing 9-2 early, the Vernois forced a second-quarter tie at 13 on Dorvontous Gordon’s inside move with 2:41 remaining in the half.
Kellin Edwards later gave the Rams a 16-15 lead with a 3-point basket off the left wing at 2:01, and a Gordon basket at 43.8 seconds made it 18-16 at the half.
The Rams’ last lead was 20-18 when Ian Randolph sank a 16-footer out front, but Marion put the next nine points up — Waldrop had five points, Isaiah Powe put back a weak-side rebound and Adeoye scored on an inside feed — and Aaron Mattox’s club hit the third stop with a 37-23 lead.
“We did a much better job of getting the basketball inside in the second half,” Mattox said. “We started having some success through Adeoye and Waldrop. Coach Gamber’s guys always play hard and they are one of the best defensive teams year in and year out in southern Illinois; they caused some problems for us with doubling-down on the post.”
MVTHS drew even with 4:55 remaining when Gordon sank a pair of free throws, and the Rams were holding their ground defensively when Marion ran its next set.
However, Stucky flashed off a high screen to sink the go-ahead trey.
“That hurt a lot because with their personnel, we have to give up things,” Gamber said. “We don’t have anybody who can match up with Adeoye and we have to pick things to give up.
“The Stuckey kid was one of them. Good teams find a way to win, to hit a big shot.
“And he did,” Gamber said.
Marion made it a 7-0 run with scores from Waldrop and Adeoye, punching the Wildcats’ advantage to 38-31 at 2:37 remaining.
Randolph hit a three-point play, Adeoye sank a jumper off the left baseline at 2:11 (40-34), and the rest of the scoring came at the foul line. Stucky, Powe and Adeoye all hit two of two free throws in the closing stages.
“We hit the big free throws down the stretch,” Mattox said. “Stucky stepped up and hit shots with a lot of confidence, and I think our young kids are beginning to play with that confidence this week.”
Gamber said the Wildcats defended his team’s point guard each and every trip.
“Marion did a good job of preventing our point guard from starting the offense,” Gamber said.
Adeoye finished with 14 points, Waldrop 11 and Poe 10 for Marion. Gordon scored 11 for the Rams, who had no other player in double figures.
MVTHS meets Salem tonight at 7 p.m. to close out its first trip to the Pyramid. It will carry either a 3-2 or 2-3 mark into next Friday’s rematch with Marion — this time the matchup is a league game — at Changnon Gymnasium.
“We wanted to win this game so bad, but the game we have to get is next week,” Gamber said. “We need to win these type games.”
Marion 47, Mt. Vernon 39
Marion 9 7 11 20—47
MtVernon 4 14 5 16—39
MARION (4-0)
Powe 4 2-4 10, Mieldezis 1 0-0 2, Adeoye 6 2-3 14, Ellis 1 0-0 2, Waldrop 4 2-3 11, Luckett 0 0-0 0, Sullivan 0 0-3 0, Stucky 2 3-4 8. Totals 18 9-17 47
MT. VERNON (2-2)
Edwards 3 0-0 7, Fortney 1 4-4 6, Tucker 1 0-0 3, Randolph 3 1-1 7, TyriTrimble 0 5-5 5, Gordon 4 3-6 11. Totals 12 13-16 39
3-point goals — Marion 2 (Waldrop, Stucky), Mt. Vernon 2 (Edwards, Tucker). Team fouls — Marion 13, Mt. Vernon 18.
