Wildcats pick up home win over Belleville Althoff

MARION - Jerzy Bittle scored a game-high 26 points as Marion knocked off Belleville Althoff 43-36 Monday night at Cuss Wilson Gymnasium.

The Wildcats (2-3 overall, 1-1 South Seven) put six players in the scoring column as Karris Rhine finished with five points, while Payton Strobel and Alexis Ucci each flipped in four points. Morgan Isaacs and Lily Garrett each tacked on two points.

Marion jumped out a 10-9 first quarter lead and outscored the Crusaders 15-10, to take a 25-19 lead into the locker room.

Marion held the edge in the third quarter, leading 33-26 going into the fourth where the Wildcats held on for the win, getting three points from Rhine and three points from Bittle, while Garrett had her two points and Strobel threw in a free throw.

The Marion junior varsity team dropped a 24-17 contest to Belleville Althoff as Kam Shill led the Wildcats with five points.

Addi Boyt and Emmy Webster each tossed in three points, while Breanna Stearns, Larissa Rorick and Lydia Phelps all had two points.