Marion Athletics -

JONESBORO --- It was a tale of two halves inside Valley View's Blazer Arena on Tuesday evening.

Before halftime, the hosts ruthlessly executed their scheme, making No. 1 Marion uncomfortable on both ends, and taking a six-point lead to the halftime lockers.

After the half? Different story.

Marion dominated the third period against the hungry Blazers, outscoring the hosts 28-11, and coasting to a 75-54 victory that doubled as the Pats' first conference victory at Valley View after losses in the previous three seasons.

It also officially clinched the No. 1 seed from the 5A East in next week's state tournament for Marion, and the Patriots can clinch a second straight outright conference title, and the third in four seasons, with a win on Friday night over second-place Greene County Tech.

Marion forced 17 turnovers at Valley View and won the rebounding battle 26-16. The Patriots made 29 of 59 field goal attempts.

Patriot senior guard Chandler Randle led all scorers with 23 points, while junior guard Korbin Littlejohn hit for 18, and Dexter Higgins, Jr. finished with 10 points, six assists, and six steals. Jackson Black scored eight points, ripped down seven rebounds, and blocked three shots.

Valley View got 19 points from Eli Craig, 18 from Kingston Rotinghaus, and 12 from Saddler McCormick.

Valley View claimed a slim 13-12 edge after the first period, and stretched that lead to 29-23 at halftime on the strength of 10 second-quarter points from Craig, while Marion managed to make just five field goals in the second stanza.

A Randle corner three launched the Marion third-quarter rally, and the Patriots took the lead following a Black offensive rebound and dunk, and a Randle layup, which gave the visitors a 32-31 bulge with 5:17 left in the third.

A Higgins three-pointer tied the game again at 37 with 3:39 left in the third, and Marion took the lead for good when Higgins pulled down a rebound and drew a foul on the other end, made a free throw, then came up with another steal and a layup for a 40-37 Marion advantage with 3:07 left in the third.

A Randle runner led to a Randle three that gave Marion its first double-digit lead (49-38) of the night with 1:24 left in the third, and Marion led 51-40 to open the fourth quarter.

A Littlejohn three-pointer followed by a Randle three-point play gave Marion a 71-54 lead with 2:26 left in regulation.

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.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN
Marion earned the No. 1 spot in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Arkansas Media poll's Overall Top 10 this week, up from No. 2, where the Patriots were for the past six weeks.
The Patriots were also ranked No. 1 in each publication's weekly Class 5A rankings.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 2/24
Marion 75, Valley View 54
Greene Co. Tech 66, Batesville 32
W. Memphis 69, Searcy 48
Nettleton 78, Paragould 68

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 2/25
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 13-0*
Greene County Tech 12-1*
W. Memphis 9-4*
Nettleton 6-7
Valley View 5-8
Paragould 4-9
Batesville 2-11
Searcy 1-12
*clinched playoff berth in 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