Double-doubles by Rhoades and Owens lead No. 19 Marian's rout of Washington
SOUTH BEND — The best-kept secret in Northern Indiana boys basketball is no longer.
With 6-foot-4 senior Zion Rhoades and fellow frontliner 6-foot-3 junior William Owens II showing the way, coach Robb Berger’s Marian Knights suddenly are making big-time noise in the Northern Indiana Conference.
Friday night at the Great Western Forum, Rhoades scored 25 points, 10 in the second quarter, and Owens had 12 of his 21 points in the third quarter and both players each had 11 rebounds as the Knights, ranked No. 19 Class 3A by the Associated Press, won their fourth straight game with a dominating 73-48 victory over the host South Bend Washington. The Knights are now 8-8 overall and now 3-1 in the NIC.
More NIC action: Penn changes defenses, and with it, the NIC boys basketball title race in win over Riley
“We started off with a really tough schedule,” said Berger, who moved within five victories of 300 in his 17th season at Marian, which he guided to a Class 3A state runner-up finish to Beech Grove in 2022. “We’ve now found our niche with our fourth win in a row. Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.”
He will get no argument from Washington coach Ryan Varga, whose youthful Panthers fell to 7-7 overall and 5-3 in the NIC with their fourth straight loss.
“Credit Zion and Deuce — they had their way with us,” said Varga, who got a game-high 26 points from 6-foot-5 sophomore Steven Reynolds and a quiet 13 points from freshman Da’Kori Parker. “We just were not physically and mentally tough. We checked out and never really responded.”
Coming off a 31-28 home NIC victory over Penn a week ago, the Knights’ suffocating 2-3 zone spread itself so wide in their defensive halfcourt that Reynolds and Parker couldn’t get anything going consistently. Both Reynolds (6 of 18) and Parker (5 of 15) shot 33-percent from the floor as the Panthers were held to 31.1 percent shooting by Owens, Rhoades, teammates Paxan Sullivan, Jackson Horvath, Jordan Maust, Brandon Foster and Co. The Knights shot 53.2 percent from the field (25 of 47), dominated the boards 39-19 and forced 19 turnovers while making just 11 of their own.
Friday night scores: Here are your Friday night high school basketball scores
“(Washington) has some really good offensive players, and they needed some attention,” Berger continued. “I thought we handled their pressure pretty well, and we did a pretty good job getting some good looks.”
And the Knights showed great patience weaving the ball into Rhoades and Owens for easy baskets.
“That’s kind of the way they (Rhoades and Owens) play,” Berger said. “They work well together.”
Rhoades enjoys being the big brother. “I took him (Owens) under my wing a little bit,” Rhoades said. “We hang around a lot outside of practice.”
The little brother likes their relationship. “We didn’t really know each other in middle school,” Owens said. “Our teammates do a great job. They create which helps Zion and me to get good shots.”
It’s no wonder the Marian Knights are finally making some big noise.
MARIAN 73, WASHINGTON 48
At Great Western Forum, Washington High School, South Bend
MARIAN (73): William Owens 21, Zion Rhoades 25, Paxan Sullivan 9, Jackson Horvath 8, Jordan Maust 0, Ben Warnell 0, Brandon Foster 7, Elias Norgaard 3, Prescott Horvath 0, Eric Logan 0, Thomas Murphy 0, Isiah Watts 0, Joaquin Wilson 0, Terrance Lane 0, TOTALS 25 21-25 73.
WASHINGTON (48): Steven Reynolds 26, Da’Kori Parker 13, Donovan Johnson 2, Lavier Smith 6, Josh Johnson 0, Jaydon Lineberry 0, Mike Stuckey 1, Andre Wells 0, TOTALS 14 16-18 48.
Marian | 17 | 13 | 20 | 23—73
Washington | 9 | 11 | 12 | 16—48
3-point goals: Marian 2 (Jackson Horvath), Washington 4 (Parker 3, Reynolds 1).
Field-goal shooting: Marian 25 of 47 for 53.2 percent, Washington 14 of 45 for 31.1 percent. Free-throw shooting: Marian 21 of 25 for 84.0 percent, Washington 16 of 18 for 88.9 percent.
Rebounds: Marian 39 (Rhoades 11, Owens 11), Washington 19 (Reynolds 8). Turnovers: Marian 11, Washington 19. Total fouls (fouled out): Marian 16 (none), Washington 17 (none).
Records: Marian 8-8 overall, 3-1 Northern Indiana Conference; Washington 7-7 overall, 5-3 Northern Indiana Conference. Next games: Bremen at Marian Thursday; Washington at Crown Point Saturday. J.V. score: Marian 38, Washington 35.
MARIAN ROLLS OVER WASHINGTON 73-48 Coach Robb Berger's Knights won fourth straight NIC game, getting a pair of double-doubles from 6-4 senior Zion Rhoades (25 points, 11 rebounds) and junior William Owens II (21 points, 11 rebounds) to prevail at Great Western Forum.
KNIGHTS HOT FROM FIELD AND FOUL LINE Marian (8-8 overall, 3-1 NIC) shot 53.2 percent from the field, held Washington (7-7, 5-3 NIC) to 31.1 percent. Both teams shot over 80 percent from the line (Marian 84 percent; Washington 88.9 percent).
BOARDS CONTROL The Knights also won the battle of the boards, 39-19. Steve Reynolds of Washington led all scorers with 26 points and teammate Da'Kori Parker added 13 for Washington, which visits Crown Point Saturday.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Marian boys basketball making noise in NIC with fourth straight win
