PARAGOULD --- The Marion Junior Patriots completed a dramatic in-season turnaround last Saturday afternoon to win a second consecutive northeast Arkansas tournament championship. The junior Pats vanquished Jonesboro MacArthur 42-40 in overtime at the Greene County Tech auxiliary gym to avenge Marion's only home loss of the season. Marion finishes the 2021-2022 season with a 22-4 final record after winning its last 11 games. It's the fifth district tournament title for Marion coach Johnny Washington. The 2021 junior high district tournament was canceled. Washington's junior Pats have finished as district tournament runners-up three times. “Even back in seventh grade, we thought this could be a really special group,” said Washington. “They're talented, sound basketball players, with a high IQ. Once they bought in and really started playing defense, and believing in each other, we took off.” High expectations proved heavy for Marion early on, however. The junior Pats were 11-4 following a mid-December loss to host Jonesboro Annie Camp at a Christmas tournament, but Washington thought his team was capable of more. “We needed to focus more on the little things like transition defense and boxing out,” said Washington. “Once they saw those things worked, it fell into place.” Marion ran the table in its side of the district schedule, earning the top seed in the tournament by finishing 6-0 against Crittenden County rivals West Memphis East, Wonder, and West. At the district tournament, Marion pounded Paragould in the opening round before facing Mountain Home in the semifinals. The junior Pats punched their ticket to the final behind freshman Lyndell Buckingham's 10 points, seven points from Cameron Garrett, and six from Dawon Smith. Smith connected on all six fourth-quarter free throw attempts to close out Mountain Home. In the final on Saturday, Marion committed 14 first-half turnovers and trailed 17-13 at halftime. “Their defense had a lot to do with that (turnovers),” said Washington. “They kept us center-baseline and iced the screen on our ball picks. We told our guys at halftime that we had to take better care of the ball, and the foul ratio was not in our favor. We talked about being more aggressive going to the basket.” Washington's wisdom hit home, as the junior Pats committed just four turnovers after the break, and connected on nine of 20 field goal attempts in the second half and overtime. Marion shot the lights out in the third quarter, making five of seven from the floor, enough to get the junior Pats within 25-24 entering the fourth frame. The fourth quarter featured five lead changes and three ties, and the teams headed to overtime knotted at 35. Buckingham scored first in the three-minute extra period when he hit a layup with 2:28 remaining in OT, but MacArthur scored the next five points, including a three-pointer from Kelen Smith with 1:32 left on the clock. But the Cyclones wouldn't score again. Buckingham brought Marion within one on a stickback with 1:12 left in overtime, and Garrett gave the junior Pats the lead for good when he connected on a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining. Buckingham split a pair of charities with seven seconds left to clinch the final score. “Once they (MacArthur) went up three, we called time and told our guys we were going to get a stop and go score,” said Washington. “That's the mentality we try to instill in our kids.” Buckingham led all scorers with 17 points, while Anthony Wilson and Garrett added six against MacArthur.