Marengo girls move to 3-0 in BNC East

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MARENGO – With her team leading by a point with 20 seconds remaining in the game, Marengo senior Marissa Haskins weaved through Richmond-Burton's defenders, hoping to melt the clock without drawing a foul.

Haskins eventually drove to the basket and scored on a layup while picking up a shooting foul. Although she missed the free throw, the Rockets did not have time to get a potential game-tying shot off, and Marengo held on to pick up a 57-54 Big Northern Conference East Division win Tuesday.

"We wanted to hold the ball but got rattled from [R-B's] pressure," Marengo coach Todd Price said. "But we seem to be coming out with these close games, and tonight we had to pull this one out too."

The Indians (11-5 overall, 3-0 BNC East) led, 53-48, with 1:23 remaining in the fourth quarter before R-B freshman Erin Thomas hit a three-pointer to make the score 53-51. The Rockets' Hailey Schleibinger, who led all scorers with 20 points, stole Marengo's ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled while attempting a layup. Schleibinger connected on one free throw to make the score 53-52. Both teams traded baskets before Haskins' clinching layup.

"We were prepared for a good game and had the mentality we needed," said Haskins, who finished with 15 points. "We tried to keep the intensity because we knew [R-B] would try to get back in the game. As a team, as long as we have the same mind-set, that keeps us going."

With the game tied at 16 with 6:42 left in the second quarter, Marengo scored seven consecutive points to begin a 15-4 run and took control of the game. The Indians led, 31-24, at halftime.

"We had three or four turnovers [in the second quarter, which allowed Marengo] to go up by eight points, and that seems like a never-ending story for us," Rockets coach Melanie Hinz said. "That is the seventh game we've lost by five points or less. We played well. The kids played hard and did what was asked. Things just didn't fall our way."

Trailing, 42-33, with a minute left in the third quarter, the Rockets (4-14, 2-3) scored seven consecutive points to make it a 42-40 game by the fourth quarter.

"Give it up to Richmond. They have been playing good ball," Price said. "They really improved from last year."