Marion Athletics -

Through the first trip through the treacherous 5A East conference schedule, the Marion Lady Patriots find themselves firmly on the bubble for the 2026 Class 5A state basketball tournament.

Marion came up with perhaps its biggest win of the 2025-2026 season on January 23, when the Lady Patriots rallied past Batesville inside Pioneer Gymnasium, with junior guard Maliya Stallings scoring on a layup at the buzzer.

Earlier this week, Valley View topped Marion 60-48 at Fidelity Bank Arena, and the Lady Pats fell 66-48 at two-time defending 5A East champion Greene County Tech at Eagle Arena.

Marion got 17 points from Summer Morgan, 13 from Stallings, and 12 from Cortlyn Brown in the victory over the Lady Pioneers.

Stallings and Morgan scored 16 points apiece in the home game against Valley View, while Jordyn Wilkerson added nine.

Morgan poured in 16 points at Greene Co. Tech, while Wilkerson scored nine, and Stallings added three.

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 2/6
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Greene Co. Tech 7-0
Nettleton 6-1
Valley View 6-1
Paragould 3-4
Marion 3-4
Batesville 3-4
Searcy 1-6
W. Memphis 0-7
Top four teams make state tournament at Farmington.

5A EAST GAMES ON 2/6
Marion at W. Memphis
Greene Co. Tech at Paragould
Searcy at Nettleton
Batesville at Valley View