McCracken County girls took control of Friday’s game against Marshall County from the start and never trailed. The Lady Marshals got as close as two points in the second quarter but had no answer for the Lady Mustangs who handed them their first loss of the season.
“They deserved to win…they out-played us in every facet of the game”, Lady Marshals Head Coach Dan Langhi said. “They got loose balls, they were more physical.”
Freshman Destiny Thomas led McCracken County in scoring which Langhi attributed in part to a breakdown in the Lady Marshals defense, allowing Thomas to drive the lane and score 28 points in their first win over Marshall County since Jan. 2018.
“If we get beat and we compete as a team…I’m fine with that, but if we get beat and we don’t compete I have a problem with that because at the end of the day, you’re going to have days when you make shots and you don’t make shots”, Langhi said. “Tonight we weren’t making anything and we let it affect us on the defensive end of the floor”.
McCracken County scored quickly after the opening tip, going up 6-0 on three straight baskets from Bethany Russell and two by Marlee Morehead before Halle Langhi put the Lady Marshals on the board, going on to trail 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Cayson Conner cut the lead to four, scoring and drawing the foul and sinking the free throw. A three from Jada Driver cut McCracken County’s lead to four at 17-13 and they were within two on a basket by Jordyn Reed but would get no closer, trailing 24-16 at halftime.
The Lady Mustangs scored the first five points of the second half to go up 29-16, getting some life on two straight baskets that drew the foul from Conner for six points but Thomas scored on a turnover, knocked in free throws and hit a three to keep the game out of reach at 47-30 going into the fourth quarter.
Down by 21 points to start the fourth, Driver went to the line twice, hitting all four free throws, Presley Jezik made two at the line and a basket from Conner cut the lead down to 13 but it was the Lady Mustangs night as they got the win and improve to 3-1.
The Lady Marshals will have to turn it around quickly and get ready for Carterville, Ill. Saturday.
McCracken County 14 24 47 56
Marshall County 7 16 30 42
Scoring:
McCracken County: Destiny Thomas 28, Abby Ellington 12, Marlee Morehead 8, Mary Beavers 4, Bethany Russell 2, Lucy Lerho 2
Marshall County: Cayson Conner 19, Jada Driver 10, Presley Jezik 5, Layne Pea 4, Jordyn Reed 2, Halle Langhi 2
