Marion Athletics -

PARAGOULD --- When Paragould visited Marion last month, the Rams stunned the Patriots with an opening 10-0 run before the Patriots rallied to victory.

On Tuesday night, Marion hit the Rams with an opening 11-0 run and coasted home with a 62-46 wire-to-wire victory on Doc Paynter Court.

Marion improved to 23-4 overall and 11-0 in 5A East play so far in 2025-2026, and the Patriots host Batesville on Friday night.

Three Patriots scored in double-figures at Paragould, led by Jalen Neal and Chandler Randle's 15 points apiece, while Jackson Black finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Paragould got 12 points from Gaylon Craig, 10 from Wyatt Eckles, and six from Delonte Batiste in the contest.

Black ignited the Marion attack in the first period, pouring in seven points in the initial eight minutes, including a three-pointer, and a pair of inside baskets, and when Dexter Higgins, Jr. scored on a layup in transition, the Marion lead was 11-0, and the Pats led 17-7 after a quarter.

The Rams heated up from three-point range in the second quarter, canning three triples to get as close as four points at 23-19, but Marion pushed back ahead 30-21 at halftime, and a Batiste three-pointer with 4:07 left in the third got the Rams within 33-32.

That's when Marion amped up defensively, forcing five turnovers and controlling the glass to open up a 51-40 lead after three quarters.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion hosts Batesville on Friday, February 20, as the Patriots continue 5A East play. The Marion-Batesville girls varsity contest will tipoff around 6 p.m., followed by the boys game around 7:30. You can watch the Marion-Batesville girls and boys varsity games for free on the MPAN YouTube channel.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN
Marion maintained its hold on the No. 1 spot in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's weekly Class 5A SuperSix rankings, and the Patriots were also No. 2 in the ADG's Overall Top 10. MHS also earned the No. 1 spot in the Arkansas Media's weekly high school rankings, with a No. 2 ranking in the Overall Top 10.

5A EAST RESULTS FROM 2/17
Marion 62, Paragould 46
Greene Co. Tech 55, W. Memphis 52
Nettleton 62, Batesville 35
Valley View 78, Searcy 64

5A EAST STANDINGS ON 2/18
SCHOOL CONF. RECORD
Marion 11-0*
Greene Co. Tech 10-1*
W. Memphis 7-4
Nettleton 5-6
Valley View 5-6
Paragould 3-8
Batesville 2-9
Searcy 1-10
*clinched berth in state tournament

5A EAST GAMES ON 2/20
Batesville at Marion
Valley View at Greene Co. Tech
W. Memphis at Nettleton
Paragould at Searcy