Throw wins and losses out the window when it comes to a 4th District rivalry game. Marshals Head Coach Terry Birdsong knows that all too well, especially coming from a Calloway County program he knows very well. The game couldn’t have been any tighter with the difference coming in the first quarter where the Marshals out-scored the Lakers by three points. Both teams points total were identical in the second, third and fourth quarters which led to a three point Marshall County win.
“I told these guys that as hard as wins are to come by in this region, you’ve got to celebrate every one of them”, Birdsong said. “I knew it was going to be a tough game, they’re good defensively and they’re physical.”
Aaron Dawson scored the first basket of the game to give the Lakers their only lead until they would go up again early in the fourth quarter. Nearly two minutes in, Aaron Reed put the Marshals on the board followed by four points each from Lucas Nichols and Matt French for a 10-2 lead. The Lakers finished out the quarter out-scoring the Marshals 7-2 to cut the lead to 12-9.
Dawson, who led the Lakers with 14 points, tied the game at 14 in the second quarter. That was followed by the Marshals only 3-pointer in the game from Tyler Powell to put them back up by three. French, who battled underneath the entire game, with a great second effort put the Marshals up by five cut back to a three point lead at the end of the half on a off-balance buzzer beater by Jeremy Darnell.
The Lakers cut the Marshals lead back to one in the third quarter but found themselves trailing again…by three…at the end of the quarter. The Marshals eight points in the quarter were split between Reed and French.
Both teams put up 10 points in the fourth quarter with the lead going back to Calloway County for just the second time in the game following four straight points from Dawson. Austin Riley tied it at 28 with a free throw and the ‘and 1’ play by French put the Marshals back up 31-28 with 3:39 remaining.
Skyler Smith scored his first two points of the game from the foul line with 47.9 seconds to go to put the Marshals up by four, free throws by Powell made it a six point game cut in half on a three by Darnell. With 12.1 left on the clock, a couple of missed free throws by Powell left the door open for the Lakers to tie and 2.7 seconds left, the Lakers had the ball under their goal out of a time out and the three attempt by Darnell was no good.
“You’ve got to give Calloway credit…they made tough shot after tough shot”, Birdsong said. “We’re just not very polished right now. We’ve got some kids playing hesitant. We’ve got to loosen up a little bit. Our post defense has to get a little better. We gave up what I thought was too many easy opportunities. It’s just simple stuff. We’ll watch film and make some adjustments.”
In a quick turnaround, the Marshals tip-off at 1:30 Saturday against Hopkinsville in the Mustang Madness at McCracken County High School.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| Calloway County | 9 | 16 | 24 | 34 |
| Marshall County | 12 | 19 | 27 | 37 |
SCORING
Calloway: Dawson 14, Darnell 11, Scott 5, Benson 4
Marshall: French 14, Reed 9, Powell 7, Nichols 4, Smith 2, Riley 1
Calloway: FG 15/40, 3 PT 2/13, FT 2/4, Reb 18, Ast 6, TO 3
Marshall: FG 14/43, 3 PT 1/11, FT 8/12, Reb 40, Ast 5, TO 5
The MCHS Dance Team, O-Zone and Pep Band added to the great district game atmosphere Friday at Reed Conder Gymnasium.
