Marion Athletics -

Veteran Marion girls basketball coach Shunda Johnson believes that playing a challenging non-conference slate prepares you for 14 rugged games in the 5A East.

One game into the conference slate, and Johnson has looked like a prophet.

Johnson's Lady Patriots opened conference play last Friday night against West Memphis with a 7-0 run to start the game, and never trailed in a 52-25 victory over the Lady Blue Devils, giving Marion its most lopsided victory over its Crittenden County rivals.

Marion's largest lead was 32 points in the fourth quarter.

The Lady Patriots got 12 points apiece from Maliya Stallings, Jordyn Wilkerson, and Summer Morgan in the victory.

West Memphis fell despite getting 11 points from Selisha Granger, but no other Lady Blue Devil scored more than Tru'nyhia Birdo's 6 points.

Marion made eight of its 15 field goals in the first quarter, including the first seven points on a Wilkerson three-pointer and a long two, followed by a Cortlyn Brown steal and layup.

West Memphis scored the next six points, including five from Granger, but Marion countered with a Morgan triple, and layups from Carmen Cisero, Morgan, and A'layah Smith, the latter giving the Lady Pats a 16-6 lead after 8 minutes.

Marion took its first 20-point lead (28-8) on a Stallings free throw with 3:05 left in the first half, and the Lady Pats toted a 30-11 lead to halftime when Laniya Crayton came up with a steal and layup to beat the halftime horn.

The Lady Pats led by as many as 32 points in the second half.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion continues 5A East play this week with a road trip Tuesday evening to play Nettleton, followed by a home date Friday night with Searcy. The varsity girls games at Nettleton and home for Searcy will tip off around 6 p.m., followed by the varsity boys game around 7:30. You can watch the Nettleton and Searcy varsity girls and boys games for free on the Marion Patriots Activities Network YouTube channel.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 1/9
Marion 52, W. Memphis 25
Greene Co. Tech 64, Paragould 32
Valley View 49, Batesville 35
Nettleton 50, Searcy 26

5A EAST STANDINGS AS OF 1/12/26
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 1-0
Greene Co. Tech 1-0
Valley View 1-0
Nettleton 1-0
Batesville 0-1
W. Memphis 0-1
Paragould 0-1
Searcy 0-1
Top four teams qualify for 2026 state tournament (site TBD).

5A EAST GAMES ON 1/13
Marion at Nettleton
Greene Co. Tech at Searcy
Valley View at Paragould
Batesville at W. Memphis