Late game heroics save Indians
Sub-par shooting didn’t stop middle school girls with Indian jerseys and war-painted faces from asking to pose for photos with Dusty Albaugh and Kasey Semler after Wednesday night’s game.
For the Marion seniors are not only teen heartthrobs, they’re bona fide stars.
With the white-knuckler of a game with Center Point-Urbana on the line, knotted-up with just seconds to go, it was Albaugh and Semler who pulled it out for their team.
“It’s fitting that it was the two of them that came through in the end,” said Marion Coach Mike Manderscheid after the 55-51 home victory over CPU in a first round Class 3A substate matchup of Wamac rivals.
“They’ve been doing it all year.”
And they’ll likely be called on to do again when they face Mount Vernon or Independence Thursday night in a substate semifinal at Kennedy. Independence's game against Mount Vernon scheduled for Monday night was postponed to Tuesday because of icy road conditions.
The Indians (15-7) and Stormin’ Pointers (10-12) faced each other twice in the regular season with Marion winning both, 86-78 and 72-60.
“We knew we’d get their A game,” said Albaugh. “They’re a good team, and they play hard. And, yeah, it was pretty intense.”
It was a see-saw struggle of two well-prepared, gritty fighters all night long.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 00:44
