PARAGOULD --- Entering this season, the Marion Patriots had won six conference titles in school history, and just two since 2005. Marion added lucky No. 7 with Friday night's 63-58 victory at Greene County Tech. The Patriots trailed just once all night and made eight of its nine fourth-quarter free throws to down Greene County Tech at Eagle Arena. The victory assures Marion of the No. 1 seed from the 5A East in this season's state tournament at Pine Bluff with its first conference championship since 2019. "It means a lot to win this league because everyone is well coached, with good players," said Marion coach David Clark. "We don't take anything for granted because we can lose on any night." Marion will open its run at this season's Class 5A state basketball tournament on Tuesday, February 28 at 8:30 p.m. at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The Pats will face the No. 4 seed from the 5A West, which could be any one of five teams right now, including Harrison, Van Buren, Russellville, Greenbrier, or Mountain Home. Marion sophomore guard Lyndell Buckingham paced the Patriots (23-6 overall, 12-0 5A East) in scoring for the sixth straight contest with a game-high 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds. David Brewer scored 11 points, and Kayden Nesbitt added 10 points and six boards. Landon Stuart and Benji Goodman paced the Eagles (21-8, 5-7) with 18 points apiece. Marion got off to a fast start in the first quarter, making six of its eight shots, including a pair of Brewer three-pointers, and the Pats led by as many 11 points before settling for a 19-10 bulge after 8 minutes. Buckingham scored 7 points in the second quarter, including the last 4, and his runner with 24 seconds left in the half gave Marion a 30-20 lead at the break. At halftime, Marion had outrebounded Tech 17-11, while the Eagles connected on just one of their nine three-point attempts. The hosts embarked on an 11-0 run late in the third period, and when Stuart capped that spurt with a layup, the Eagles had their first lead of the night at 37-36 with 1:34 left in the frame. That's when Buckingham converted a three-point play on Marion's final possession of the third to give the Pats a 39-37 advantage entering the decisive frame. "Lydnell right now has taken it to the next level for us," said Clark. "Whatever we need at that time, he gives us. He's under control at all times, and he's showing everyone why he's the next big-time player that we always thought he was." Buckingham scored or assisted on 3 of Marion's first 4 field goals in the fourth and the Patriots led 51-42. That's when Goodman made three free throws and a three-pointer, the latter got the Eagles within 55-52 with 1:25 left in regulation. Goodman fouled Nesbitt, who made both free throws for a 57-52 lead with 58.8 seconds left, but Stuart responded with a shot from long range to pull Tech within 57-55. Martavius Davis and Mikell Lewis each made a pair of charities late, but a Stuart triple gave Tech life with 11.4 left, and the score 61-58. Brewer made a pair of freebies to cap the scoring. "Credit to our guys, we lost some games in the non-conference because we missed some free throws," said Clark. "They worked it and got better, and you saw them make some big ones tonight in a tough spot with a lot of pressure.” WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Paragould (12-15 overall, 6-6 5A East) tonight for Senior Night at Fidelity Bank Arena. Marion downed Paragould in January, and would stay alive for a No. 2 playoff seed should the Lady Patriots cram the Rams again. The girls game will tip around 6 p.m., followed by Senior Night festivities for cheer, girls basketball, and boys hoops. The boys game against Paragould will begin around 7:30. The varsity games and Senior Night festivities will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. CONFERENCE CROWNS Marion earned the first conference title in school history when Coach Melvin Brown's Patriots earned the 1989 district tournament championship before advancing to that season's semifinal, which also marked a first in school history. Brown's Pats then established themselves as a state power, taking down league titles in 1992, 1993, and 1997. Brown retired following the 2004 season, and Irving Clay's first team ran the table in the AAAA East in 2005, marching back to the final four before losing a heartbreaker to eventual state champion Alma. Clark's initial team at Marion put the state on notice by earning the 2019 5A East crown en route to that season's state championship. 5A EAST RESULTS FROM FEBRUARY 17 Marion 63, Greene Co. Tech 58 Paragould 52, W. Memphis 40 Valley View 60, Searcy 57 Nettleton 79, Batesville 54 5A EAST STANDINGS AS OF FEBRUARY 21 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Marion 12-0*+ Nettleton 10-2* Paragould 6-6 Valley View 6-6 Greene Co. Tech 5-7 Searcy 5-7 W. Memphis 4-9 Batesville 1-11 *clinched playoff berth +clinched conference title