MJHS boys top Carterville, stay unbeaten

MARION -- The Marion Junior High School boys basketball team stayed unbeaten with a 49-45 victory over Carterville on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats improved to 7-0 with the Big Seven Conference win.
Benja Stone led Marion with 17 points. Nehemiah Goodman had 12 and Cooper Thompson had 10.
MJHS led 23-19 at halftime and went into the fourth leading 33-32.
It was still at one-point game at 42-41 until Goodman dropped in a rebound basket with 51 seconds left.
The margin was trimmed to one again after Caden Hawkins hit free throws with 36 seconds left to make it 44-43.
But the Wildcats got four free throws from Evan Noelle down the stretch to hold on for the win. Jahmel Portee also hit two free throws in the final period.
Kade Lutensberger led Carterville with 13 points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter. Hawkins finished with 12.
Carterville won the seventh-grade game, 41-33. Marion is now 4-3.