Raiders wrap up share of Wamac West crown

MARION -- Marion has gotten better. A lot better.But as far as the Wamac Conference West Division is concerned, Williamsburg is the best.Class 3A eighth-ranked Williamsburg posted a humongous advantage at the free throw line and wrapped up a share of the Wamac West girls' basketball title with a 49-34 victory Friday night at Marion High School.Williamsburg's last league title came in 2006, when it was a member of the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference. The Raiders (16-2 overall, 12-0 Wamac West) can clinch the title outright with one win in their last two Wamac West games; its first opportunity is Tuesday at home against Vinton-Shellsburg."We were the runner-up each of the last two years (to Marion), and to put a banner in our gym is something we look forward to," said Raiders Coach Aaron Feddersen. "The kids have worked hard and have earned it."Mackenzie Bigbee collected 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Raiders were a regular presence at the foul line. Williamsburg was 18 of 31 from the stripe; Marion (6-11, 4-7) was 0 for 1.The Indians were called for 24 fouls, the Raiders for five.Still, Marion continued its late-season march toward respectability; they had won four consecutive divisional games after starting the league with an 0-6 skid.This was a far cry from the last meeting -- Williamsburg bashed the Indians, 76-40, on Dec. 14.Friday's game was tighter than the final score indicated. Leah Smith's transition basket tied the game at 30-30 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter."We played hard," said Marion Coach Brian O'Donnell. "We defended a lot better than we did last time, especially in transition."But the Raiders finished the game with a 19-4 run. Tina Lane broke the 30-all tie with a 3-pointer to close the third quarter, then Molly Boland hit a pair of treys early in the fourth. It was 41-34 before the Raiders scored the final eight points, all from the line.The free throws were a big factor. Bigbee was another, controlling the paint at both ends."At first, I was able to shoot over the top of people," she said. "They started to double- and triple-team me, and I think I was able to find some one-on-one matchups and get some quick turnarounds."Freshman Paige Greiner added 12 points and five assists.Jessie Kramer led Marion with 10 points.

AT MARION

WILLIAMSBURG (49): Paige Greiner 2-9 8-10 12, Lindsay Schlabaugh 0-5 0-3 0, McCall Meade 1-4 3-6 5, Mackenzie Bigbee 8-14 2-6 18, Hannah Wilson 0-2 2-2 2, Molly Boland 2-5 2-2 8, Tina Lane 1-3 1-2 4. Totals 14-42 18-31 49.

MARION (34): Leah Smith 2-6 0-0 5, Jessie Kramer 5-9 0-1 10, Kristin Kramer 2-9 0-0 5, Dani Peyton 1-9 0-0 3, Alyssa Jones 2-7 0-0 4, Micaela Combs 2-3 0-0 4, Paige Perkins 0-0 0-0 0, Beth Knapp 1-5 0-0 3, Allison Scott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-43 0-1 34.

Halftime: Williamsburg 27, Marion 18.

3-point goals: Williamsburg 3-14 (Greiner 0-4, Schlabaugh 0-1, Meade 0-2, Wilson 0-2, Boland 2-3, Lane 1-2), Marion 4-13 (Smith 1-1, K.Kramer 1-4, Peyton 1-4, Knapp 1-4).

Team fouls: Williamsburg 5, Marion 24.

Fouled out: Peyton.

Rebounds: Williamsburg 36 (Bigbee 12), Marion 32 (Jones 6).

Assists: Williamsburg 10 (Greiner 5), Marion 11 (Smith 4).

Steals: Williamsburg 8 (Greiner 3), Marion 4 (Smith 3).

Turnovers: Williamsburg 8, Marion 17.