PINE BLUFF --- Shunda Johnson's plan for her program is to always be playing its best in February and March, even if it looks detrimental early on. She did it again in 2023. Despite starting the regular season 3-14 overall, and 0-3 in the conference, Johnson's Lady Patriots found their stride to win nine of their last 11 games to finish as league runners-up with the No. 2 playoff seed in the state tournament. Marion dispatched Russellville here in the state tournament's opening round before blitzing Sylvan Hills 65-51 in the quarterfinals to make a third consecutive semifinal appearance and just the fifth final-four run in school history. Marion led most of the second half in the semifinals against Vilonia before the Lady Eagles took the lead late, only for Marion senior Aaliyah Taylor to drain a dramatic three-pointer to send the game into overtime. In the extra session, Marion twice took a two-point lead, but Vilonia scored the game's final four points to earn a 41-37 victory while advancing to Thursday's final against defending Class 5A state champion, Greenwood. Marion's season ends at 14-16 overall, 9-5 in the 5A East. MARION 65, SYLVAN HILLS 51 Marion entered its round-of-eight contest against Sylvan Hills with the fourth-seeded Lady Bears fresh off one of the tournament's opening-round shockers, a 53-46 victory over 5A South champion Benton (23-5 overall). Against Benton, Sylvan Hills guards Jianna Morris and Jayla Stirgus combined to score 47 points, getting to the rim at will. Morris left her mark against Marion, scoring a game-high 29 points, albeit on eight-of-31 shooting while she made all 12 of her free throws. But, Stirgus managed just 10 points with five turnovers, and no other Lady Bear scored more than Courtney Savelle's eight points. Conversely, Marion got 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds from junior point guard Ny'Asia Jackson, 14 points and eight rebounds from senior guard Aaliyah Taylor, as well as 10 points, and six boards from senior post Alyse Holliman. It added up to a 65-51 Marion victory in which the Lady Pats did not trail for the last two and a half quarters of the ballgame. The Lady Pats outscored Sylvan Hills 34-18 in the paint to offset 18 Marion turnovers. Marion's bench outscored the Sylvan Hills reserves 27-0. Marion's answer to the explosive backcourt of Morris and Stirgus was a steady dose of senior guard Falencia Selvy, who hounded one of the two guards on every possession. Sylvan Hills scored the game's first four points, but five Lady Patriots scored in the first period to get Marion even at 13-all after a quarter. The Lady Bears took a 25-24 lead with 3:34 left in the second quarter on a pair of Morris free throws, but layups from Jackson, Kiera Neal, and Aya Johnson gave Marion a 32-28 lead at halftime. Marion took control of the game early in the third when Jackson connected from long distance, Holliman scored on a layup, and Taylor and Jackson made threes on consecutive possessions and suddenly the Lady Pats led 45-41 after three. Marion took its first double-digit lead (56-46) when Holliman made a pair of free throws with 2:54 left in the last quarter. VILONIA 41, MARION 37 (OVERTIME) Marion's quest for a second state title fell short in overtime on Saturday afternoon against 5A Central champion Vilonia. Vilonia scored the game's first five points, but Marion responded with six consecutive of its own, culminating when Neal scored on a stickback. Vilonia owned an 11-10 advantage after the first quarter. A see-saw second quarter played host to four ties and three lead changes, the last of which saw Taylor Little score a layup with 51.4 seconds left in the half to give Marion a 23-22 lead at halftime. Marion at halftime had made just seven of its 25 field goal attempts, as Vilonia managed an eight-of-18 showing, but the Lady Pats stayed afloat by forcing nine Vilonia turnovers before the break and outrebounding the Lady Eagles 14-11. Marion's total included six offensive caroms. Neither team could gain any separation in the third period, which boasted three more ties and lead changes, but Marion toted the lead into the fourth period following an Aya Johnson three-pointer and a Jackson layup gave the Lady Pats a slim 33-31 lead. Marion took its biggest lead of the game when Taylor scored on a stickback, Taylor split a pair of free throws, and when Taylor slashed to the hoop for a layup with 5:58 remaining, the Lady Pats enjoyed a 38-33 lead. That's when Vilonia embarked on an 8-0 run to take a 41-38 lead with 1:33 remaining. That set the stage for Taylor's game-tying triple from the right wing just in front of the Marion bench. The senior Garden City signee's three-pointer sent the game to overtime tied at 41. Layups from Neal and Taylor gave Marion leads of 43-41, and 45-43 in the bonus four-minute period. Following four straight Vilonia points, Neal tied the game on a layup with 38.4 seconds left. From there, Vilonia made all four of its free-throw attempts in the final 12.6 seconds to punch its ticket to the title game.