Marion's game last Friday night against Greene County Tech at Fidelity Bank Arena had to appeal to Marion fans of a certain age. The old 4A East rivals for more than 20 years (until 2006) were up to their old tricks again in February 2022. Long-range proficiency from Greene County Tech? Check. The Eagles made 11 of 22 shots from behind the three-point line. Late-game dramatics from the home team? Yes. Marion junior swingman Donnie Cheers tied the game late on an offensive rebound. Overtime? Absolutely. Marion won overtime thrillers in 2005 and 2006. Tech returned the favor on Friday night, though. The Eagles made three of four field goals in the extra period to earn a 53-49 victory that locks Marion (22-6 overall, 10-2 5A East) into the No. 2 playoff seed in March at the state tournament in Sheridan, and keeps Tech (13-12, 6-6) alive for the postseason. Each team embarked on runs in the first quarter, as Marion took a 10-6 lead on a 6-0 run as Ryan Forrest scored four points, and Kayden Nesbitt and Donnie Cheers split a pair of free throws. But Tech scored the last eight points of the frame to take a 14-10 lead after the first quarter when the Eagles made four of eight shots from long range. Tech fashioned a seven-point lead (19-12) following a Nic South three-pointer with 5:15 left in the second quarter, but Marion scored the last eight points to lead 20-19 at halftime. Jayden Forrest started the spurt with a three-pointer, Marion's only make from distance all night (one of nine), followed by a Nesbitt free throw, a Ryan Forrest layup, and a pair of Jayden Forrest free throws. The halftime break did little to cool off the red-hot Tech shooters. The Eagles made five of seven triples in the third quarter, including their last four field goals, and the visitors led 36-32 to open the fourth quarter. Tech led by as many as five points in the fourth quarter, but Nesbitt made a pair of free throws, and Jayden Forrest split a pair of charities to get the Pats within 44-42 with 59.2 seconds left in regulation. On Marion's final possession of regulation, Jayden Forrest pulled up for a jumper inside the paint that just missed, but Cheers was in position and tipped the ball back into the hoop with 1.5 seconds remaining to force overtime. Tech's Tyler Vincent and Kenny Moss combined to score all nine Eagle points in overtime. Vincent gave the visitors the lead for good on a layup with 1:41 remaining. Cheers split a pair of free throws to get Marion within 50-47 with 56.6 seconds left, and Jayden Forrest hit a pair of charities to get within 51-49 with 8.7 seconds left before Vincent hit two foul shots with 6.3 seconds remaining to cap the scoring. Tech senior Christian Walls led all scorers with 18 points (all from three-point range), Vincent scored 14, and Benji Goodman added 13. Jayden Forrest paced Marion with 15 points and seven assists, while Cheers poured in 13 points, and Nesbitt had seven points and eight rebounds. Marion travels Tuesday night to Paragould, and the girls game will tip around 6 p.m., followed by the boys game around 7:30. Both games will be streamed live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app.