For a team that’s struggled all year getting out of the gate, the Marion girls couldn’t have picked a worse time for another slow start.

Coming to town Tuesday night leading the Wamac West Division by a game and ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, the Benton Bobcats (13-1, 7-1) charged out to a 15-2 and never looked back.

Plagued by six turnovers in each of the first three quarters, the Indians tried to play catch-up the whole way in a 55-38 loss.

“There’s not one thing I can pinpoint,” said Marion Coach Corby Laube afterward. “For whatever reason, we didn’t come out and play the kind of game we’re capable of playing. It was a rough night.

“We just didn’t play very well. But Benton is a very good team. So that probably had a lot to do with it.” After the woeful first few minutes, Marion (8-6, 5-3) perked up some and came as close as 22-15 with 3:09 left in the half.

But Bobcat senior all-stater Madison Weekly, a female version of Marcus Paige with her savvy floor play and cool composure, immediately nipped a comeback bid in the bud.  She  drained a long 3-pointer, was fouled on the shot and dropped in her free throw for a game-changing, four-point play.

“Madison is just a great leader,” said Benton Coach Laurie Donald.  “She does all the little things for us. She’s out there calling switches on defense and setting plays on offense.

“Obviously, we’d be a different team if she wasn’t out on the floor.”

Weekly, who led all scorers with 15, set the tone right off with a steal and an easy bucket to open the game.  Deciding to dish to teammates, she then directed a six-minute13-0 run to put her team in the driver’s seat.

“Once we got that big lead, we just settled in and kept working our game plan,” Donald said.  “What we wanted to do was force Marion to do things they didn’t want to do. Our girls did a good job staying with their assignments and we were able to build up a cushion.”

Weekly, who claimed to have an off-night by shooting 6-for-15, credited solid team defense with establishing the early lead and holding it.

“We did a good job reading their passing lanes and getting steals,” she said. “That gave us some confidence and momentum.

“When our defense is working, that transitions into our offense.”

For his part, Laube was at a loss to explain his team’s overall lackluster performance in a pivotal match-up with the league leader.

“We had too many unforced turnovers,” he said. “And we gave up way too many offensive rebounds. And we never did seem to get in the flow of the game.

“Basketball is a game of ups and downs. And this just wasn’t one of our best games.”

Banging under the boards all night, Marion workhorse Michalyn Mohr managed 11 points to lead her team in scoring.

If there was a bright note for the Indians, oft-injured senior Micaela Combs provided it when she came back from a game-ending ankle injury last Friday to her play her hard-nosed defense and score five points.

“She’s  playing with pain, said Laube. “But she always plays with a lot of heart.”

BENTON (55): Katrina Sindt 1 2-2 5, Madison Weekly 6 2-2 15, Alyssa Wiebel 5 1-2 11, Elizabeth Thompson 2 1-2 5, Sara Petrzelka 4 0-0 8, Jenna Roe 1 0-0 2, Ashley Kullmer 1 0-0 2, Margaret Weirather 2 1-3 5, Elizabeth Embray 0 2-2 2, Bailey Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Ettleman 0 0-0 0, McKenzie Rawson 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-13 55.

MARION (38): Micaela Combs 1 3-4 5, Amanda Sahm 2 3-4 7, Paige Perkins 3 1-1 7, Beth Knapp 0 0-0 0, Michalyn Mohr 4 3-7 11, Emi Banes 2 0-0 5, Tessa Jordan 0 0-0 0, Jozee Peyton 1 1-1 3. Totals 13 11-17 38.

Halftime - Benton 30, Marion 19. 3-point goals – Benton 2 (Weekly, Sindt), Marion 1 (Banes). Total fouls – Benton 17, Marion 10. Fouled out – none.