MARIETTA — Marietta set the tone early on senior night Saturday at Sutton Gym, jumping out to a 23-4 first-quarter lead against Cristo Rey and never looking back en route to a 63-24 victory.

The Tigers improved to 15-3 ahead of Sunday’s postseason tournament draw. They’ll head to Akron Ellet for a non-conference game Tuesday.

MHS honored seniors Brayden Jones, Seth Britton, Charles Merrill and Junior Bass. Britton shared team-high scoring honors with Zaiden Wittekind at 13. Jones added eight points and four assists while Merrill finished with six rebounds, a steal and a block in his first varsity start.

The Tigers, who shot 42.6% (26 for 61) from the floor, also got nine points from Lucas Miller, seven points and three steals from Owen Riley, game-highs of nine boards and five dimes from Trey Hawkins and six rebounds and four steals from Wittekind.

Highlights included a pair of transition dunks by Wittekind, one a monster right-handed slam, as well as a behind-the-back pass by Britton on a layup by Jones.

The visiting Cougars (0-18) got 13 points from Nate Getahun and eight from Liban Dika.

Fort Frye 55, Belpre 45

BEVERLY — Belpre’s attempt to snap a two-game losing streak here Saturday afternoon resulted in a 29-22 halftime lead versus Fort Frye, but the host Cadets limited the Golden Eagles to just 16 points after intermission during a 55-45 victory.

Fort Frye, which improved to 7-12 and plays Tuesday at River, made just 10 field goals in the affair and five of those came in a first quarter where the Cadets trailed 17-16.

The Golden Eagles, now 8-11 with a road trip Tuesday to Eastern, had the game tied at 38 entering the final eight minutes.

After the break, FFHS got its only made field goals thanks to a 3 apiece from Clayton Miller, Chatum Courson and Coen Fouss. Miller and Courson led the Cadets with 12 points, Fouss had eight and Kainan Bradford had 11 counters.

Belpre, which went 11 of 19 from the foul line compared to Fort Frye’s 31 of 37 effort, received a game-high 14 points from Carson Moore. Malik Currie added 11 points and Chris Copen had eight.

Miller drained all six of his foul shots, Fouss was 5 of 6, Courson made 9 of 12 and teammate Terry Thompson sank all four of his charity stripe tosses.

Williamstown 66, Wirt 38

ELIZABETH — There was no home court advantage for Wirt County here Saturday afternoon against top-ranked Class AA Williamstown as the host Tigers missed all 16 of their attempts from downtown in a 66-38 loss to the Yellowjackets.

WHS, which extended its winning streak to nine, was led by Jayden Bryant’s game-high 21 points and Lynken Joy’s 10-point, game-high 13-rebound double-double.

The ‘Jackets of head man Scott Sauro, who improved to 13-3 and will have senior night Monday versus No. 8, Class A Wahama, led 23-10 after one and 41-16 at halftime.

Wirt County, which was riding its second two-game winning streak of the campaign, was led by Braylan Dawson’s 15 points. The 6-9 Tigers return home Tuesday with an eye on a season sweep of Calhoun County.

The Yellowjackets, who got eight points from Parker Schramm, seven points and four assists from Cruz Isaly along with five points and five boards from Tyler Keiser, missed 16 of 22 from distance, but shot 50% (28 of 56) overall.

Magnolia 78, P. Catholic 67

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg Catholic held a 28-27 halftime advantage here Saturday afternoon, but visiting Magnolia scored 51 points after the break and left town with a 78-67 win.

The Blue Eagles, who watched Kingston Christen drain five 3s and go 8 for 8 at the foul line en route to a game-high 27 points, held a 49-42 cushion entering the fourth.

Hunter Oates knocked down three treys and added 20 points while Dubale Greathouse had 17 markers for the now 9-8 Blue Eagles, who made 22 of 30 from the line and welcome Shenandoah to town on Tuesday.

The 5-13 Crusaders, who play Tuesday at Hannan, were paced by Preston Randolph’s 24 points. Carter Nelson and Leonard DeAngelo combined for seven triples and chipped in 14 counters apiece.

Gilmer 56, Calhoun 44

GLENVILLE — In a battle of four-win Little Kanawha Conference rivals here Saturday afternoon host Gilmer County used a strong fourth quarter to stave off Calhoun County as the Titans emerged with a 56-44 triumph to earn a regular season sweep.

The Red Devils, who slipped to 4-11 and play Tuesday at Wirt County, received a trio of 3s from Cooper Morris to help take a 19-16 lead after one, but the Titans led 24-23 at the break.

Gilmer County, which a week before Christmas left Mt. Zion with a 47-46 victory, watched Zach Wine score 13 of his 17 points in the second half as the Titans led 38-34 entering the fourth and ended up draining 19 of 22 from the free-throw line.

Kolten Holbert, who had the Titans’ only made trifecta, put up nine of his 17 counters in the opening quarter.

Morris also shared in game-high scoring honors with 17 while teammate Brennen Carpenter, who added nine caroms, five steals and four dimes, tallied 12 of his 16 markers after intermission.

Jacob Mick and Remi Huffman chipped in eight points apiece for the now 5-13 Titans, who welcome in Class A, No. 2 Tucker County on Tuesday.

Ripley 69, Grafton 46

GRAFTON — Ripley, which entered the week ranked sixth in Class AAA, bounced back from a tough 47-40 home loss to No. 11 Winfield on Friday by blowing out winless Grafton here Saturday, 69-46.

The 0-13 Bearcats, who got 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and a trio of assists from Mason Markley, trailed 25-6 after one and 44-16 at halftime.

Ripley received a game-high 18 points from Kyler Doss while teammate Matthew Stellato had 13 points to go along with game-highs of seven rebounds and seven assists.

Caleb Parsons joined Viking teammate Blake Justice, who had a game-high six steals, with nine markers apiece. Brandon Sias added six counters and six caroms for the victors, who will take a 12-4 record into Tuesday’s showdown at No. 5, Class AAAA Spring Valley.

Grafton, which will try for its first victory Tuesday at Scott, also received nine points from Dillian America and eight by Greyson Ramezon.