By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

Peabody-Burns boys and girls finished the Marion Classic Saturday without a win, but the losses were far from the same.

The boys’ most promising performance was against Remington Thursday, where they lost 58-31.

Despite its highest point total, both overall and in a quarter, on the year, the girls ended up still looking for their first win, falling 48-13.

The Warriors open Wheat State League play Friday, hosting Goessel in a 6 p.m. tipoff.

Boys

Despite the point differential Thursday, the Peabody-Burns boys managed to get into the paint on offense, which spaced the floor for shooters.

Remington’s scoring burst early in Thursday’s game was due partially to coach Bob Kyle’s choice not to play man defense, he said.

“We did play a little zone early in the ball game, but we just don’t play zone well,” he said.

To change up the scheme, Kyle had the defense play more aggressively in the second half, leading to more steals for Peabody-Burns.

“We wanted ball pressure the whole second half and to just go after it all night long,” he said.

Leading the Warriors on offense was Rocco Weerts, who unloaded 15 points on Remington.

The team leaned heavily on the 6’3” Paul Baatrup as well, who dropped in five points and cleaned up several rebounds in the paint.

Saturday’s game against Marion was a different matter, where Peabody-Burns lost 75-18. Marion made use of their superior height to put pressure on their southern neighbors most of the game.

In response, Kyle set up his players to break the full-court defense, passing over the top and trying to move downcourt quickly.

“I tried to set up some different scenarios to get the ball in the middle of the floor where we could move it better,” he said.

The plan had varied results, sometimes landing Peabody-Burns in trap situations, but also getting them a few open looks.

Weerts struggled Saturday, but Tyler Entz put in five points to lead the team.

Peabody-Burns could not keep the opponent from scoring, but they were able to distribute the ball, with Jake Partridge, Noal Reynolds, and Andrew Hauck also adding points.

Girls

Only one thing was for certain in Saturday’s consolation game for seventh place; one Warrior team would pick up its first win of the year.

The setback drops Peabody-Burns to 0-5 on the season.

The quick start the Warriors needed, instead, came from Marion, jumping out to a 10-2 lead after the first quarter.

After many attempts all season, Peabody-Burns finally got in gear the second quarter for the Warriors’ best of the year.

Kaete Johnson scored two of her team-high six points and Sarah Spencer got all three of hers in the run.

Marion still had a 25-9 lead at halftime.

The Warriors exhausted all their magic in the second quarter with Marion outscoring Peabody-Burns the second half, 23-4.

Peabody-Burns got 24 trips to the free-throw line, but could only convert on seven for a cool 29 percent to go along with three field goals.