To say that the Marion Lady Patriots have proven resilient during their 2021-2022 season would be an understatement. The Lady Pats proved it again last Friday night at Fidelity Bank Arena. Marion erased an 11-point, first-quarter lead against top-seeded Jonesboro before Erauna Hardaway scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter, capped by two free throws with 1:05 remaining, to give Jonesboro a 54-52 victory. The Lady Pats finish the regular year 19-10 overall and 9-5 in the 5A East, and will be the No. 3 seed in this week's Class 5A state tournament in Sheridan. Marion opens its run at 7 p.m. Wednesday night against Hot Springs Lakeside, the No. 2 seed from the Class 5A south. Every Marion state tournament game will be streamed live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. “We've told our girls that we feel like we have the deepest bench in the state,” said Marion coach Shunda Johnson. “To go down, execute, set up in our press, and capitalize on those turnovers, this was a great showing tonight for our confidence.” Jonesboro (19-6, 13-1) was sharp in the earlygoing on Marion's senior night, hitting the hosts with an 8-0 run to open a 15-8 lead with 2:05 left in the first quarter, and the visitors enjoyed an 18-10 advantage after the opening stanza. Jonesboro connected on four of five three-pointers in the first quarter. The Golden Hurricane lead hit 23-12 following an Allannah Orsby three-pointer with 6:14 left in the first half. That's when Marion responded with an 8-0 run of its own, highlighted by sophomore guard Ny'Asia Jackson hitting for six points, including a three-pointer that got the Lady Pats within 23-20, and forced a Jonesboro timeout. Marion found the range down the stretch of the first half, as Falencia Selvy and Makayla Banks hit three-pointers on three of the Lady Pats' final five possessions to get Marion within 30-29 at halftime. Jessica Robins gave Marion its first lead (31-30) since the first quarter with 7:11 left in the third period before Jonesboro responded instantly with an 8-2 run to seize a 38-33 advantage. That's when Marion scored the last seven points to earn a 40-38 bulge, sparked by nine Jonesboro turnovers, after three quarters. Jonesboro scored the first five points of the final frame, and the Golden Hurricane led by as many as six in the fourth quarter, but Marion forward Kiera Neal collected an offensive rebound and hit a pair of free throws to get the Lady Pats within 50-46 with 3:21 remaining. Neal's stickback on Marion's following possession got the hosts within a deuce. Alyse Holliman hit a mid-range jumper with 2:17 left in the fourth to get Marion within 52-50, and a Robins layup tied the game at 52 with 1:22 left. That set the stage for Hardaway, who drove the lane and drew a foul, making both charities to provide the winning margin. “As she goes, we go,” said Jonesboro coach Jodi Christenberry of her senior guard. “She makes me look really smart. The nights that she's not as focused, we tend to struggle more, but when it comes down to it, she wants to win and she finds a way.” Orsby, Destiny Thomas, and Bramaya Johnson fueled Jonesboro with 12 points apiece. Robins powered the Lady Pats with 12 points, while Neal and Jackson each hit for 10.