North Marion 78, Corbett 54: Top Performers

<p>It's been a bit of a wide-open year at the 4A level but one thing's for sure - North Marion will be in the mix when it comes to the state tournament as well as the title chase. The Huskies had been on a roll until a loss to Gladstone in the penultimate game of the season, but North Marion made up for that setback with a solid 78-54 victory over Corbett on Senior Night.</p> <p>It was a bit of a slow start for the Huskies as Corbett scored the first seven points of the game. But North Marion quickly bounced back with 18 straight and other than some defensive lapses here and there, never looked back. Senior star and likely repeat Tri-Valley Conference Player of the Year <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sergio-jimenez/">Sergio Jimenez</a> led the way with 31 points but in the end all 11 Huskies players that logged court time scored.</p> <p>"Eight seniors is the most that I've ever had and it means that a lot of guys from the same class stayed the course for four years and really made a commitment," said North Marion head coach Tully Wagner. "As a group they're tough kids and it was good to get a win on their senior night, you always want to get that one."</p> <p>North Marion currently ranks #2 in the OSAA 4A rankings but there will be one game left to play as the Tri-Valley Conference title game will be played on Tuesday night at Mollala High School between the Huskies and Gladstone.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Top Performers</strong></span></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sergio-jimenez/">Sergio Jimenez</a> (2020 North Marion)</strong></p> <p>Jimenez put together as dominanting offensive performance as we've seen all year long. At 6-foot-3 and well-built on the wing, he's a monster to match up with and he physically dominated every defender he went up against. He was extremely good around the basket, finishing with both hands, and facing up he capably attacked the hoop at every angle. Jimenez has worked hard on improving his perimeter shot and he was able to knock down a three. A willing passer, the senior also dished off a few nice passes for easy baskets. At the end of the night he had racked up 31 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in an MVP performance. We caught up with Jimenez to talk about his college options and will have an update posted soon.</p> <p><strong>Joe Fundak (2022 Corbett)</strong></p> <p>Knowing very little about Corbett going into the game, Fundak immediately caught our eye. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has a lea frame but he didn't let that stop him from trying to do what he wanted on the offensive side of the ball. He had a solid stroke from three but was more than willing to try and create off the dribble and either get all the way to the hoop or pull-up from mid-range. It's clear as a young player he has a lot to learn in terms of decision making and shot selection but his high motor and unwillingness to back down from anyone was a joy to watch. He ended up with 21 points and seven rebounds.</p> <p><strong>Johnny Page (2020 North Marion)</strong></p> <p>Page may have been the defensive player of the game. The 6-foot-4 senior with a muscular frame is a football standout and while he certainly used his strength to his advantage, he showed off some nice basketball mobility as well. Page ran the floor well, hit the boards, and was an enforcer inside blocking three shots. From the senior night festivities, it appears that Page (and twin brother David Page, who did not play) are pursuing college football opportunities.</p> <p><strong>Jake Newton (2020 Corbett)</strong></p> <p>Newton was a solid big man for Corbett. At 6-foot-4, he effectively used his height and bulk to be a force on the boards and while offensively he wasn't a go-to guy by any means, he was able to convert some offensive boards into some buckets. In the end he finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and a couple of blocks.</p> <p><strong>Payton Meyers (2022 North Marion)</strong></p> <p>North Marion largely played their seniors but Meyers got some minutes and he showed some flashes of briliance. At 6-foot-4 he has good size on the wing and a nice looking jumper. He canned three from beyond the arc in the first half and his shooting stroke looked pretty smooth with a quick release. Meyers is still developing with his ball-handling and decision making.</p>