BROOKLAND --- While Marion continues its push towards the 12th conference title in school history, the Patriots found a way to fit in a non-conference game Monday night. And what a non-conference game it was. The Pats played the defending Class 4A state champion Brookland Bearcats Monday evening, and the Pats and 'Cats dueled for four sets before Brookland topped the Pats (25-15, 23-25, 25-16, and 25-21) at Bearcat Arena. Marion (17-6-1 overall, 9-0 5A East) can clinch a spot in this season's Class 5A state tournament tonight when it travels to play West Memphis. The Patriots have made the state tournament 21 of the past 23 seasons since making their first appearance in 2000. Brookland (24-4-1, 8-0 3-4A) scored the first five points of the opening set on Monday night, but Marion rallied when sophomore Kaitlyn Austin served an ace, which led to junior Maggie Miller finding sophomore Kennedy Bullins for a kill and the Pats were within 5-3. The Pats got within 8-7 when Miller hit freshman Kendall Brown for a kill, and Marion was within 10-9 when Brown slammed home a free ball. But Brookland ripped off six of the next seven points to force a Marion timeout, and the Bearcats led by as many as seven points three times in the late stages of the opening set before taking down a 10-point victory. Brookland scored an early 8-3 lead in the second stanza, but M Marion hit the comeback trail when Bullins served an ace, Miller hit Brown for back-to-back kills, and when sophomore Taylor Chamness served an ace, the Patriots had tied the set at 12. But Brookland surged back in front, taking a 19-15 lead to force a Marion timeout, but that's when the Pats reignited their offense behind Miller, who handed out six assists down the stretch, and when Brown blocked a Brookland kill, the set was knotted at 22. A Miller kill gave Marion a 24-23 lead and the Pats earned the next point for a dramatic 25-23 conquest that tied the match a set apiece. The Bearcats scored the first four points of the third set, and the hosts built on that lead throughout. When Brookland's lead swelled to 12-6, Marion called for time. The Pats worked within five points twice in set No. 3, but Brookland scored the last three points for a 25-16 victory and a 2-1 edge in the match. Marion excelled when pushed to elimination in the fourth set, taking an early 6-3 lead behind four Miller assists to Alexa Shinabery, Bullins, Brown, and Austin. But the Bearcats took off from there, scoring seven straight points for a 10-6 advantage. Once the lead hit 14-10, Marion called time and rallied after the stoppage behind a pair of Brown blocks, and two Bullins kills, and when Reese Goodwin blocked a Brookland shot, the Pats were within 15-14. The Pats got even at 18 on a Brookland hitting error, but the Bearcats opened up a four-point lead at 23-19, and the teams alternated points from there. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion can clinch a spot in the state tournament and move another step closer to a conference championship on Tuesday night when it plays at West Memphis. Marion hosts Paragould on Thursday. Both events begin at 4:30 and both matches will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the MPAN YouTube channel. 5A EAST STANDINGS Marion 9-0 Valley View 7-2 Paragould 6-3 Greene Co. Tech 5-4 Batesville 4-5 Nettleton 2-7 Searcy 2-7 W. Memphis 1-8 5A EAST MATCHES TONIGHT Marion at West Memphis Valley View at Paragould Greene Co. Tech at Batesville Searcy at Nettleton