Marlington basketball struggles in February

The Marlington basketball team is starting to hate February.

The week began with a valiant but losing effort in the Dukes’ penultimate Eastern Buckeye Conference game of the season, and it went downhill from there. The result? Marlington has yet to win a game this month, its last victory coming Jan. 31 against Salem, extending the skid to five games.

First up was a home game against Carrollton on Feb. 10. The Warriors built a 10-point halftime lead, but the Dukes refused to go quietly.

With Cameron Evanich leading the charge, Marlington exploded for 26 third-quarter points, trimming Carrollton’s lead to three entering the final period. The Warriors hung on, outscoring the Dukes 23-21 in the fourth quarter to secure a 66-61 road win.

Evanich knocked down half of Marlington’s field goals and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He added eight rebounds and four assists. Carter Frank was the only other Duke in double figures with 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while Brady Denham contributed eight points, four assists and four steals.

Carrollton (13-6, 5-4) was led by Marcus Brooks with 19 points, and Tayvian Johnson added 10.

Three days later, Marlington hosted Akron Garfield in a nonconference matchup. The Rams, ranked among the top 30 Division III schools, broke open a tight game by outscoring the Dukes 22-11 in the second quarter en route to an 86-54 victory.

Frank led Marlington with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Evanich added 17 points, seven boards and six assists.

The Dukes closed out the week with a Valentine’s Day trip to Minerva. The Lions outscored Marlington 34-16 over the second and fourth quarters to pull away for a 60-41 win.

Frank scored 11 points and Evanich added nine for the Dukes, who fell to 4-16 overall and 2-8 in the EBC. Minerva’s Rowen Hoffee led all scorers with 18 points.

Bowling

Marlington’s bowling teams finished their season with three matches in three days due to schedule makeups.

On Feb. 10 at Forrest Lanes against visiting United, the boys team won 2,215-1,995, while the girls fell 1,454-1,221. Colton Lane rolled a 355 series (181-174) to lead the boys, Owen Wright added a 322 (160-162), and Izaak Stormer posted the high single game of 190. The boys pulled away in the Baker games with scores of 191, 160 and 204.

For the girls, Laney Cross led with a 291 series (142-149), and Lizzie Blasiman added a 228 series.

The following day at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes in a rescheduled match against Massillon, the boys remained hot, winning 2,035-1,758. The girls fell 1,977-1,399. Lane (204-163) and Wright (169-198) each rolled 367 series for the boys. Cross (141-142) and Blasiman (104-165) led the girls with series of 283 and 269.

On Feb. 12, the Lady Dukes traveled to Spins Bowl Kent to face Southeast in another makeup match. Marlington fell 1,683-1,619. Cross led with a 315 series (182-133), and Mia Vigliotti followed closely with a 314 (134-180).

Trailing by 20 pins entering the Baker games, the Lady Dukes saw a 46-pin loss in the second Baker game seal the Pirates’ narrow victory.