Marion, Herrin win in first session of Tip-Off Classic

MARION -- The Marion High School girls basketball team held on down the stretch for a season-opening 51-49 win over Massac County on the first night of the Heartland Regional Lady Cat Tip-Off Classic on Monday night at Cuss Wilson Gymnasium.
Marion (1-0) trailed after the first quarter but had a big second period and survived a shaky final minute to make a winner of new head coach Mike Manfredo.
Massac County (0-1) went into the second quarter with a 16-9 lead after Kendra Waldon banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
But the Lady Wildcats went on an 18-8 run over the next eight minutes to take a 27-24 lead int the half. Lauryn Kadela had six of those points, all at the foul line, as part of a 12-point night with 10-of-10 shooting from the stripe.
Abby Bayer got hot in the third quarter and put in eight of her game-high 18 points in the frame as Marion pushed its lead to 42-31.
In the fourth quarter, Farrah Castleman hit a pair of 3-pointers -- one with a foul attached -- and Taylor Williams also connected from deep to help Massac trim away Marion's lead.
Marion guard Daishen Wolaver missed seven straight free throws -- eight if you count one marked off for a lane violation -- to further enhance the tension but baskets by Bayer, Jasa Bell and McKenzie Orange helped keep the Lady Cats ahead.
Massac had the ball last and Waldon had a shot to tie the game just before the final buzzer but missed and Bayer secured the rebound as time expired.
Bell had seven points, while Jackie Drury and Orange both had four and Cassandra Woods chipped in three. Wolaver had two points.
In the early game, Herrin overcame an early deficit to beat Vienna, 54-40, in the debut of new Herrin head coach Chris Roberts, who was Marion's coach last season.
Vienna (0-1) led 14-7 after the first quarter and extended the lead but Herrin pulled to within 26-24 at halftime, then surged in the second half behind Madison Russell.
Russell scored all but five of her 21 points in the second half. Grace Lehnhoff and Marissa Russell both added 10 points for the Lady Tigers (1-0).
Tuesday's schedule has Massac County playing Vienna at 5:30 p.m. and Herrin meeting Gallatin County, which had Monday off, in the second game. Marion will be off.