The Marion boys' basketball team wasn't about to be overshadowed by the Indian girls' team, even as they toiled in a hostile gym in Benton County, while the girls enjoyed the friendly confines of their own gym on the Marion High School campus.

The Marion boys' basketball team played only one game last week but it was an important one, and after the Indians beat Vinton-Shellsburg, 57-47, last Friday in Vinton, they could lay claim to their fourth straight outright WaMaC Conference West Division championship.

The Marion girls won their third straight division championship the same night, at roughly the same hour.

The Indian boys improved to 15-3 overall and 15-1 in WaMaC Conference play (12-1 in the West) and led second-place Clear Creek- Amana by an insurmountable three games as they headed into Tuesday night's home date with the Clippers.

Marion wraps up its league slate Friday at home against Western Dubuque, then will host Class 3A second-ranked and undefeated Mount Pleasant in non-conference play on Saturday.

After that, it's a district tournament opener at home on Feb. 22 against an opponent that had not been announced early this week.

Kasey Semler scorched the nets for 21 points in the win over Vinton and was the only Indian in double figures. He was 8 of 13 from the floor but 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and the Indians missed all seven of their attempts from beyond the arch.

After Semler's 21, balance was the key to the Marion win. Dalton Combs (eight points), Hunter Sade (eight), Tyler Fisher (six), Dusty Albaugh (six) and Corey Kramer (six) combined for 34 points, a nice complement to Semler's proliferation.

Sade grabbed 13 rebounds and Semler dished five assists.