Marion Athletics -

JONESBORO --- With its back to the wall to make the 2026 postseason, the Marion Lady Patriots left it all on the floor on Tuesday evening.

Marion dazzled early on inside Valley View's Blazer Arena defensively, forcing seven first-quarter turnovers, and leading by as many as 12 points in the initial eight minutes.

Valley View countered from there, allowing Marion to make just four field goals in the second and third periods combined, as the Lady Blazers led 54-48 after three quarters.

The hosts pushed their lead to as many as 14 points in the second half, but Marion had one final rally in it, getting within five points for a 67-62 road defeat.

Marion closes its 2025-2026 season on Friday night with a home date against Greene County Tech, a contest that will double as Senior Night at Fidelity Bank Arena.

Lady Patriot junior guard Summer Morgan led scorers at Valley View with 29 points, while classmate Maliya Stallings hit for 16, and A'layah Smith finished with five points.

Valley View put four players - Bella Seeman (19 points), Bonnie Fagan (16 points), Bri Huff (14 points and 15 rebounds), and Ruby Reynolds- in double-figures in the victory.

Marion opened the contest at Valley View in a full-court press, and the strategy worked almost to perfection in the opening stanza.

After falling behind 5-2 with 6:00 left in the first, Smith launched a 10-0 Marion run with a three-pointer, followed by steals and layups from Morgan and Stallings for a 9-5 Lady Patriot lead with 4:45 left in the frame.

Buckets from Morgan and Jordyn Wilkerson gave Marion a 15-5 lead with 3:11 left in the first, and Marion's lead swelled to 19-7 before settling for a 24-16 advantage to open the second period.

Valley View took the lead on a three-pointer with 4:09 left in the first half at 28-26, and the Blazers carried a 36-31 advantage to the lockers, and a 54-45 lead after three quarters.

Valley View's lead was 64-51 with 2:27 left in regulation, but that's when Marion hit the comeback trail.

Morgan fed Stallings for a layup to get the Lady Pats within 64-55 with 1:09 left in regulation, followed by a Morgan three that got MHS within 65-48 with 39.7 left.

Another Morgan triple made it 65-61, but Valley View closed out from the line.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion concludes its 2025-2026 regular season at home on Friday night against Greene County Tech. The girls varsity game will tip off around 6 p.m., followed by Senior Night festivities in which senior cheerleaders, girls basketball players, and boys basketball players will be recognized, and the boys game against Greene County Tech will tip off around 7:30 p.m.
You can watch the Marion-Greene County Tech varsity games and Senior Night festivities for free on the MPAN YouTube channel if you can not join in person.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 2/24
Valley View 67, Marion 62
Greene Co. Tech 46, Batesville 38
Nettleton 70, Paragould 51
W. Memphis 36, Searcy 30

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 2/25
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Greene Co. Tech 13-0*
Valley View 10-3*
Nettleton 10-3
Batesville 7-6*
Marion 6-7
Paragould 4-9
W. Memphis 1-12
Searcy 1-12
*clinched playoff spot for next week's state tournament at Farmington.

5A EAST GAMES ON 2/27
Greene Co. Tech at Marion
Valley View at Nettleton
Batesville at Searcy
Paragould at W. Memphis