AM
Marion at Tazewell
Marion (36) Vs. Tazewell (39)
Jan 27, 2012
By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
TAZEWELL, Va. — The Lady Dogs finally found shelter from the storm.
Four crucial free throws were enough to give Tazewell a hard-fought 39-36 Southwest District win over Marion Friday, after the Scarlet Hurricane had erased a big THS halftime lead and rallied to go in front early in the third quarter.
Tazewell was holding a one-point edge with :10 left after Rachel Martin’s jumper for Marion in the lane. Taylor Catron and Autumn Hash hit a pair of foul shots apiece in the final minute — three before and one after — to maintain the Lady Dog edge.
Catron and Hash combined for 24 points to pace the Lady Bulldog (9-9, 2-4) attack and keep Tazewell in position for either second or third in the regular season standings with two games left.
“Winning this (game) was big,” noted Tazewell coach Jason Southworth.
“It keeps us in the hunt for a good playoff spot. We have two big games to go and we had to have this one tonight. Playing three important games in just a few days takes a toll mentally and physically. We played hard but I think we got a little mentally tired in the second half. Our girls really worked hard for this victory.”
Catron dropped in three first-quarter buckets, Hash banked in a one-hander from the paint and Tazewell grabbed an 8-7 first quarter lead, despite a flurry of turnovers. Early inside defense by Hash, with help from Kate Snapp, helped keep Marion at bay.
Ali Moore and Elizabeth Rakes sparked the early MHS offense as Moore hit a quick trey. Catron stayed hot in the second stanza as the Lady Dogs began to pull away. Whitney Saunders grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast through traffic, seconds before Catron zipped through the lane for a one-handed jumper off the glass and THS increased its lead to 22-13 at the break.
Marion continued to be plagued by cold shooting from the baseline throughout the first half.
Marion opened the third quarter with five quick points. Ali Moore played string music on a 22-footer for a side trey on the opening series of the second half and another Hurricane bucket cut the Tazewell lead to 22-18 with 5:48 left, then Callie Mellinger hit a lay-up as Marion closed to within two points.
Rakes dropped in a basket at the 3:00 mark, sending the Hurricane back in front for the first time since the opening minutes.
Haley Christian’s top-of-the-key trey finally broke the six-minute midwinter chill to push Tazewell ahead 25-24.
Catron said, “I tried to start the scoring when the game started and we all knew we had to win this game to keep our chances for the position in the district tournament. Every player came out tonight with intensity.”
Catron broke through traffic again before the horn sounded for another paint bank basket. Those final five points of the third period kept Tazewell in control for a time midway through the final stanza the battling Hurricane rallied to tie the score at 29-all on Rakes’ two free throws.
Hash’s offensive basket sent Tazewell back in front but within less than a minute Brooke Henderson’s score gave Marion the lead again.
The two teams then traded buckets for much of the remainder but Tazewell’s late line play was enough to secure the victory.
Ali Moore and Rakes paced Marion with 8 points apiece.
Catron poured in 18 points and dished out 5 assists, while Hash scored 6 points, hauled down 12 rebounds and blocked 5 shots.
Hash noted, “Coach (Southworth) said all week ‘rebound and then square up’ and that’s what I did. My thought was to get the rebounds, play good defense and do my part to help us win. My offense starts with rebounding.”
The Lady Bulldogs play at Richlands Tuesday and Abingdon Friday to close out the regular season with a pair of district games. Marion hosts Holston Wednesday.

At Tazewell Middle School
MARION (9-9, 2-3)
Savannah O’Keefe 4, Jordan Williams 2, Ali Moore 8, Elizabeth Rakes 8, Kate Pennington 3, Callie Mellinger 4, Brooke Henderson 7. Totals 12 2 6-11 36.
TAZEWELL (9-9, 2-4)
Haley Bradshaw 2, Kim Ruble 1, Katie Snapp 3, Taylor Catron 18, Autumn Hash 6, Brienna Sparks 2, Whitney Saunders 4, Haley Christian 3. Totals 15 1 5-12 39.
Marion..................................7 6 11 12 — 36
Tazewell................................8 14 5 12 — 39
Three-point goals – M 2 (Moore-2); T 1 (Christian). Fouled out – none.
Nightly Roundup
Game Scoreboard
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT SCORE
Marion 7 6 11 12 0 36
Tazewell 8 14 5 12 0 39
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