Indians own the glass, batter Columbus

MARION -- Credit Michalyn Mohr for her play. And for her honesty.

Mohr and fellow freshman Amanda Sahm were two of four Marion players in double figures, and the Class 3A 11th-ranked Indians handled Waterloo Columbus, 75-58, in a Wamac Conference West Division girls' basketball game Tuesday night at Marion High School.

So how did the Indians (8-3 overall, 5-1 Wamac West) get so many offensive rebounds? Was it hustle? Was it magic?

"No, (Columbus) just didn't box us out," Mohr said.

Marion shrugged off a lethargic start and an overall ragged game (the teams combined for 46 turnovers and 51 fouls) to snap a three-game losing streak.

"I'm pleased with a lot of things," said Marion Coach Brian O'Donnell. "But our defense has to be more consistent."

The rebounding was just fine. Led by Mohr (16 points, 14 rebounds), the Indians enjoyed a 48-33 advantage on the glass.

"I like it underneath and I like going after the rebounds," said Mohr, a strong 5-foot-10 post with good hands.

Columbus (1-11, 1-7) led 7-6 with nearly six minutes gone, then the Indians scored the next 14 points to assume control. The Sailors edged within 39-34 early in the third quarter before Marion zapped them with another run, a 17-4 job for a 56-38 lead.

Dani Peyton led Marion with 18 points, followed by Mohr (16), Sahm (12) and Beth Knapp (11). The Indians shot a healthy 51 percent from the floor.

Mohr and Sahm are ninth-graders, giving O'Donnell promise for continued improvement down the road.

"They're very athletic and they have a good understanding for the game for being so young," he said.

Columbus' Kate Letkewicz led all scorers with 28 points.

Marion is at Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday.

MARION 75, WATERLOO COLUMBUS 58

At Marion

WATERLOO COLUMBUS (58): Regan McLaughlin 1-6 0-2 2, Lindsay McManus 4-10 9-13 17, Anna Strien 2-11 0-0 5, Kate Letkewicz 9-24 8-11 28, Sarah Peterson 0-2 0-0 0, Brianna Farley 2-4 0-2 4, Megan Harn 0-2 0-0 0, Abby Greenwood 0-0 0-0 0, Riley O'Neill 1-4 0-0 2, Carlie Sullivan 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 19-63 17-29 58.

MARION (75): Allison Scott 1-3 3-4 5, Jessie Kramer 3-9 1-2 7, Beth Knapp 4-7 3-9 11, Dani Peyton 5-6 7-8 18, Alyssa Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Michalyn Mohr 7-7 2-5 16, Amanda Sahm 5-7 1-3 12, Brooke Cole 1-2 0-0 2, Emi Banes 0-7 2-4 2, Elizabeth Deeney 0-1 0-0 0, Ashlin Korf 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-53 19-35 75.

Halftime: Marion 39, Columbus 31.

3-point goals: Columbus 3-20 (McLaughlin 0-2, Strien 1-6, Letkewicz 2-12), Marion 2-7 (Knapp 0-2, Peyton 1-2, Sahm 1-1, Banes 0-2).

Team fouls: Columbus 26, Marion 25.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Columbus 33 (McManus 9), Marion 48 (Mohr 14).

 Assists: Columbus 5 (Letkewicz 2), Marion 10 (Peyton 4).

Steals: Columbus 8 (Letkewicz 3), Marion 7 (Kramer 3).

 Turnovers: Columbus 20, Marion 26.