Marian boys’ basketball team is looking to generate momentum as the regular season quickly comes to an end.

The Colts’ goal is to gain entrance into the District 11 Class 2A playoffs and Friday’s Schuylkill League game with Williams Valley was very critical to that mission.

When the Colts (10-8, 5-4) kicked it into high gear and raced out to an early lead, taking a big step toward that goal looked simple enough.

But things are never easy as they seem.

Marian eventually accomplished their mission and defeated the Vikings, 73-57. But to do so, the Colts had to stave off a late second half rally by the visitors.

It was seniors Julius Currie and Jessie Rodino who played the biggest roles in allowing Marian to do that.

Currie tied a career-high 31 points and hauled down 13 rebounds to lead the way. Rodino, the muscular 6-3 power forward, dug his way in for 17 points and led the team with 15 rebounds. Sophomore Jake Toms also deserves credit as he came off the bench to give his team a shot in the arm, scoring 11 points.

“It felt good, finally we got to come home after four games on the road,” Currie said. “I really felt good, I got some good looks, I had a good rhtym. But the biggest thing is we helped our chances oif reaching our goal of trying to get into the playoffs.”

The victory was sweet music for Colts’ coach Scott Murphy, whose team now needs just one more win to qualify.

“We do some nice things, then we do some things that are not so nice,” Murphy said. “When we spread the ball around and look for the open shot and the open man, we can do a good job. Then occasionally, we get careless.”

Those nice things were shining early and often.

Marian played perhaps its finest quarter of basketball this season in the first quarter. The Colts’ offense turned the Vikings upside down and inside out, on the way to pouring in 25 points - and the defense wasn’t taking a back seat, allowing just 11 points and forcing seven turnovers.

The Colts broke free from an 11-7 score, going on a 13-4 run. Currie was really catching fire with 13 points, including three triples. As for Rodino, he zipped home seven points in the run.

Marian didn’t skip a beat at the start of the second quarter, charging out to what seemed like a commanding and comfortable lead at 35-13 advantage with 3:56 to play before halftime. Currie netted seven more in the period, with James Rodino, Jesses brother, sank four points as the Colts’ swaggered into the locker room ahead 40-22.

“We played a really good first half, but got a little lackadaisical in the second half,” Murphy said. “Williams Valley is a very athletic team.”

It showed come the second half. The Vikings found their stroke and began a surge over the final four minutes of the third quarter cutting into the deficit to 50-34.

Williams Valley (6-9, 1-6) continued that charge in the fourth quarter behind sensational football all-stater Alex Ackenbach, who would score 20 points on the night, as the Colts’ lead shriveled to 53-46.

That’s when unknown Marian sophomore Tom stepped up and started to drain baskets, including back-to-back threes, which helped his team get back in control.

TEAM REBOUNDING ... Murphy was pleased with the overall rebounding effort, especially Currie coming from his guard slot. Colts had 42-30 plurality.

SHOOTING IT UP ... Marian went 16-for-27 in the first half and finished 27-for-52. The Vikings shot 20-for-50. Currie was phenomenal on the night, going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe 9-for-16 from the field.

COACH SPEAK ... “We like to run up and down the floor. We’re trying to get a little bit better in the halfcourt,” said Marian’s Murphy.

HE’S A PLAYER ... Achenbach had a super football season for Williams Valley and the kid is great on the basketball court too. He had four steals using his quickness, speed and anticipation.

A SWEEP ... Marian breezed in the opener 39-12 led by Jacob DeLaCruz with nine points.

WILLIAMS VALLEY

A. Achenbach 8-2-8-20, Shomper 4-5-5-16, Sutton 4-1-2-10, E. Achenbach 3-3-4-9, Zilinski 1-0-0-2, Kandybowski 0-0-0-0, Criswell 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 20-11-20-57.

MARIAN

Currie 9-8-8-31, Jes Rodino 8-1-4-17, Tom 4-0-3-11, Ja. Rodino 3-0-0-6, Miller 2-0-0-5, Ja.DeLaCruz 1-0-0-3, Hopeck 0-0-0-0, Thomas 0-0-0-0, Ju. DeLaCruz 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 27-9-15-73.

Williams Vy. 11 11 12 22 - 56

Marian 25 15 12 21 - 73

Three-pointers: Williams Valley - Shomper 3, A. Ackenbach 2, Sutton 1; Marian - Currie 5, Tom 3, Miller 1, Ja. DeLaCruz 1.