MUNCIE — The Mt. Vernon Marauders are right where they hoped to be.
Knocked out of the sectional tournament during the quarterfinals last year, the Class 4A Marauders now have a chance to avenge the past full circle.
The Marauders (17-5) advanced to the Sectional 9 championship tonight at 7 p.m. with a 44-32 win over Richmond in the semifinals Friday night.
They will play Hoosier Heritage Conference and Hancock County foe New Palestine for the championship inside Muncie Fieldhouse.
The New Palestine Dragons upset the state-ranked Marauders in last year’s sectional tournament, 41-32, en route to their sixth championship overall.
The Marauders might have lost out on a potential sectional repeat last February, but they are collectively fixated on a second title in three years after winning their 10th straight game.
“It’s nice. It’s nice to comeback after last year,” Mt. Vernon senior point guard Abby Worley said. “Now, we’re all excited and pumped up to play (in the championship).”
Worley was a big part in Mt. Vernon’s title-game run, scoring 18 points with three assists and two steals against Richmond (8-6). During Tuesday night’s 36-32 victory over HHC rival Pendleton Heights in the sectional quarterfinals, Worley had five points as she struggled with her shot.
Against the Red Devils, she converted her first five, including four consecutive 3-pointers to start through the first three quarters.
“It was about time I woke up,” Worley laughed. “After the last game, and everything, I got my confidence going and had my teammates telling me I could do it. I just came out and did it.”
Senior Lexi Shelton had 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting from the field and buried the team’s other three 3-pointers.
The Marauders were 7 of 15 from beyond the arc and 18 of 35 overall at 51 percent.
“We came ready to shoot today. I feel confidence plays a big role with us and when we move the ball from in and out, then they always go in,” Worley said.
Shelton sank the first 3-pointer of the game and Worley’s two immediately afterwards put Mt. Vernon up early 9-3. A 6-0 run in the second quarter consisting a 3-pointer by Worley and an and-1 by Shelton increased the margin 17-7.
A 13-3 run in the second half led to an eventual 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, which marked the Marauders’ biggest advantage.
“This whole year, we’ve had our ups and downs and kids in and kids out, but for the most part, when we do the things that we do and play our roles, we’re a very good team,” Mt. Vernon head coach Julie Shelton said.
“We needed (Abby) to step up and have a good game. She’s a very capable scorer, a good shooter, and I was extremely happy to see her have some confidence to shoot the ball because she can.”
The Marauders utilized their team chemistry and defense to keep the Red Devils at bay after Richmond pulled within one and two points to start the second half.
A Kenzie Wert 3-pointer made it 17-16 with 7 minutes, 47 seconds left in the third quarter, and a free throw by Jakaia Lotz cut the Marauders’ lead to 19-17.
Then, Worley buried a 3-pointer, converted a layup and Shelton matched Ajah Orr’s 3-pointer with one of her own before the Marauders jumped out 32-20.
Wert had a team-high 12 points for Richmond, followed by nine points from Alayha Allen, five for Orr and three each from Jayci Allen and Lotz.
A Worley jumper with under four minutes remaining gave Mt. Vernon its largest lead at 42-27 in the fourth quarter. The margin never dipped below 10 points from there.
Riley Hasseld powered the Mt. Vernon defense with eight steals and two points while adding two assists. Olivia Yeley had two points, two steals and two assists.
Shay Shipley, who has been a catalyst for the Marauders off the bench, had seven assists, primarily finding Worley, Yeley and Shelton, with two steals and two points.
“Early we struggled against the zone a little bit, and then we talked about it at halftime and we did a little bit better in the second half,” Julie Shelton said.
The Marauders don’t intend to waste anytime against the Dragons, who have won three straight games to reach their fourth consecutive sectional title game.
“It’s always going to be a dogfight with New Pal, but that’s what makes it exciting,” Worley said.
