Local Sports

Pioneers claim Shrine Tournament title

Three Marietta College players scored 20-plus points as the Pioneers eclipsed the century mark in Saturday's 106-76 win over Pittsburgh-Bradford at Ban Johnson Arena.

With the victory, MC claimed the Shrine Tournament championship. Mason Wisniewski, a 6-foot-7 junior post, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after scoring 21 points against the Panthers. Wisniewski also posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double in Friday's 93-75 win over Waynesburg.

Marietta improved to 3-0 on the year for second-year head coach Andy Bucheit. Picked to finish eighth in the Ohio Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches' poll, the Pioneers have started the season on fire, averaging 97.7 points per game.

Marietta finished 40 for 67 (59.7%) from the floor Saturday, including 6 for 12 from 3. Sophomore Joey Emory tied Wisniewski for team-high point honors with 21. The point guard was 9 for 14 from the field and tallied game-highs in assists (5) and steals (4). Trenton Collins added 20 points, three dimes, three steals and a team-best six rebounds.

Jeremy Rodriguez led all scorers with 27 points for Pitt-Bradford, which dropped to 2-2 on the year. Rodriguez hit a pair of free throws to open the game, but that was the Panthers' only lead as Emory's 3-pointer put MC in front to stay.

Wisniewski's transition dunk at the 12:37 mark put the Pioneers up 13, 25-12. However, three straight baskets by Rodriguez brought the Panthers within four, 32-28. Wisniewski answered with another jam, and Emory later followed with a fastbreak dunk of his own to stretch the lead back to double-digits, 41-31.

It was 48-41 at halftime, but the Pioneers completely dominated the second half. Pitt-Bradford hung around until about the 11-minute mark, when Marietta's bench went on an 8-0 run to go up 78-59. Luke Powell converted a layup, Johnny Kambani knocked down a 3-pointer and Dasai Bronson hit a basket-and-one to stretch the lead to 19.

MC took its first 20-point lead on Collins' fastbreak lay-in with 8:20 remaining. With 4:54 on the clock, Wisniewski got the ball in the paint and slammed it home to put the Pios up 30, 97-67. Colton Conkle's two free throws 14 seconds later gave Marietta 101 points. Sebastian Jordan hit a 3 and Jackson Childers buried a jumper in the final minute.

Kambani gave Marietta 13 points off the pine. Starter Angelo Diedalis finished with seven points while Powell added six points and five boards.

Other than Rodriguez, who added four assists to his statline, Kanye McMahon was the only other Panther to score in double figures (11). He also grabbed a team-high six boards. Tra Edwards had four assists while Jack Lymbery contributed three steals for Pitt-Bradford, which shot 44.6% (29 for 65) from the floor and committed 28 turnovers.

The Panthers utilized a full-court press most of the game, but Marietta only committed 17 turnovers against the pressure.

Next weekend, the Pioneers head to Ohio Wesleyan for the annual Great Lakes Invitational. They'll face Saint Joseph's (Maine) at 3 p.m. Friday before taking on Berry College (Ga.) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Marietta's next home game is on Wednesday, Nov. 25, against Wittenberg.

WOMEN

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Marietta College women’s basketball team earned a convincing 81-47 victory over Penn State Behrend in the consolation game of the Chuck Resler Tournament Saturday on the campus of the University of Rochester. The Pioneers improve to 2-1 on the season. The Lions drop to 0-4.

“I’m really proud of how our team responded after yesterday’s loss,” said Marietta head coach Jenna Andersen. “We showed resilience and a great mindset, especially on the defensive end, forcing 37 turnovers and creating opportunities for ourselves. Offensively, we made a strong commitment to attacking the paint, resulting in 52 points in the lane and a lot of high-percentage looks. It was a great bounce-back performance, and we’ll continue to learn from yesterday while building on the positives from today.”

Penn State Behrend scored the game’s first points on a three-pointer by Jules Ott, but Marietta quickly settled in. Kendall Sury scored six early points as the Pioneers grabbed a 9-4 advantage midway through the period. After the Lions tied the game at 9-9, Marietta responded with a decisive 18-6 run. Abby Garner started the burst with a layup off a Sury assist, while Ella McMillen, Aleigha Busse, Callie Powell, and Amelia Uhrig all contributed baskets. Powell buried a three-pointer from the wing, and Amelia Uhrig scored four points in the final minute to give Marietta a commanding 27-15 lead after one period.

The Pioneers opened the second period on a 5-0 run and stretched the lead to 32-15 when Kelsey Harlan converted a jumper with 8:32 remaining. Penn State Behrend briefly cut the deficit to 14 points, but Marietta’s pressure defense took over. Tess Trimble recorded multiple steals during the quarter, helping fuel transition opportunities. Busse scored back-to-back layups off turnovers, Powell added a tip-in, and Sury continued attacking the basket. A late 13-3 Marietta run pushed the advantage past 20 points. Emma Rasmussen converted a steal into a layup, Sury scored twice in transition, and Harlan assisted on another fast-break basket. The Pioneers forced 11 Lion turnovers in the quarter and took a 47-25 lead into halftime.

The Pioneers put the game out of reach in the third quarter, holding Penn State Behrend to just five points while forcing 11 more turnovers. TJ Carpenter opened the scoring with a layup off a Harlan assist before another Carpenter basket pushed the lead to 51-25. Marietta’s defense repeatedly disrupted the Lions’ offense as Sury, Harlan, and the Pioneer guards generated steals that led directly to scoring chances. After Ott connected on a three-pointer for Penn State Behrend, Marietta answered with another extended run. Sury converted two free throws, Garner scored on a putback, and Busse added a transition layup. Payten Bruns, Madison Lynn, and Carpenter also contributed as Marietta continued to pound the ball inside. The Pioneers carried a 61-30 advantage into the fourth quarter.

With a comfortable lead, Marietta’s depth took center stage during the final quarter. Maggie Baker turned a steal into a traditional three-point play, extending the lead back to 29 points. Peyton Hughes scored three points, Mallory Plesac added a fast-break layup, and Brooke Ritchie knocked down a three-pointer from the corner. Plesac later drilled another three with one minute remaining to push the lead to 81-45. Marietta would go on to secure the 81-47 victory.

Sury paced the Pioneers with 16 points and was named to the All-Tournament team. Garner added eight points. Powell and Busse each scored seven points, and Uhrig chipped in six. Marietta’s bench provided tremendous production, accounting for 48 points. Carpenter led the team with five rebounds. Harlan dished out a team-high four assists and recorded three steals. Trimble matched a game-high with five steals.

Marietta returns to the Ban Johnson Arena this Wednesday as they welcome in Wittenberg for a non-conference battle. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.