East Marion earned a 65-19 win over Salem on Dec. 30, using balanced scoring and improved ball security to close out non-district play.
The Eagles (5-7) controlled the game from the jump, finishing with multiple players in double figures and committing fewer than 20 turnovers for the first time this season.
“We had them out-matched, so I wasn’t disappointed,” East Marion head coach Calvin Brown said. “We didn’t get too sloppy and we didn’t play overconfident. We tried to play one possession at a time.”
East Marion’s offense was led by Bentley Blansett, who scored 12 points. Ryan Mallory followed with 11 points, while Amari Hill and Donte Newson chipped in another 10 points each to round out four Eagles in double digits. Amari Sims scored nine points to support the scoring effort.
Hill also contributed on the boards, finishing with 13 rebounds, as East Marion held a clear advantage in rebounding and steals.
Brown pointed to ball control as a key takeaway from the game.
“We were under 20 turnovers for the first time this season,” he said. “In our wins and losses, we’ve been turning it over 20 times per game.”
The win comes as East Marion prepares to enter district play, with the coaching staff emphasizing consistency and long-term development rather than immediate results.
“We’re practicing what we’ll be doing, paying a little attention to what we expect, but not a whole lot,” the coach said. “We will play everybody twice, and the tournament is what matters most. We’re really just trying to stay core and get healthy.”
East Marion hope to carry the momentum from the non-conference victory into district action as they played host to North Forrest Tuesday. Results were unavailable at press time.
