Jonesboro blitzes Marion

MARION -- Jonesboro used a 12-0 second-quarter run to spark its offense in an 82-68 victory over Marion on Friday.

The Golden Hurricane led 21-19 after a hectic first quarter.

They increased their lead when guard Marquis Eaton stole the ball near midcourt and ran the floor for a layup, but he was met by Marion guard LeAunte Johnson. Johnson fouled Eaton and was whistled for a personal foul, then a technical foul.

Eaton drained all four free throws, followed by a three-pointer on Jonesboro's next possession to open up the first lead of 10 or more points of the night at 30-19.

"We like to encourage hard fouls, but you have to be smart about it, too," Marion Coach Irving Clay said about Johnson's foul.

"I don't know what exactly happened on that play, but to Marquis' credit, he makes all four free throws," Jonesboro Coach Wes Swift said.

Jonesboro led 42-30 at the half.

Marion attempted to work itself back into the game in the third quarter, pulling within 10 points on a Shaun Doss layup at 48-38.

That basket was answered quickly by a Jonesboro 13-3 run, and the Golden Hurricane entered the fourth quarter ahead 63-48.

Jonesboro would claim its biggest lead of the night at 22 points when Eaton's three-pointer gave the Golden Hurricane a 70-48 lead with 6:32 left in the game.

"I felt like we shot the ball fairly well tonight," Swift said. "We didn't defend the way that I'd like a Jonesboro team to defend, but Marion gets some credit for that, too."

Jonesboro forced 16 Marion turnovers, but the Patriots connected on 45 percent of their shot attempts.

The Golden Hurricane (15-2 overall, 6-0 7A/6A-East) got 16 points from Ben Harvey, 14 from Eaton and 13 from Desi Sills.

Marion (9-7 overall, 4-1) got a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds from junior forward Shaun Doss, 15 from Marlon Warren and 11 from A.J. Latham.

Sports on 01/30/2016

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