The Lady Marshals opened their CFSB Region 1 Tournament play on Tuesday with a 65-56 win over Fulton County and will advance to play Graves County in Friday’s 7:30 semifinal. Graves County beat Paducah Tilghman 49-39 in the first game on Tuesday at the CFSB Center.
Head Coach Jimmie Holder said in post-game comments to WCBL that he thought with only two girls with significant minutes in a regional tournament game, that it showed a little with how they played.
“Offensive rebounding really kicked our tails in that first half”, Holder said. “Credit to them, but also we’ve got to be a lot better.”
After a game-opening basket by Fulton County’s LaMesha Brown, a basket by Georgia Hall and 3-pointer from Madyson Morton put the Lady Marshals up 5-2 and they never trailed again. Six different players contributed to the first quarter scoring for the Lady Marshals and a 14-10 lead.
Chevelle Henson led the charge for the Lady Marshals in the second quarter, scoring 12 of their 17 points while going 6-of-7 at the free throw line. The second quarter was a sign of things to come, with a total of 60 combined trips to the free-throw line in the game. The Lady Marshals hit 9-of 14 in the quarter while the Lady Pilots struggled with just three of their 14 dropping in.
Marshall County’s 12-point halftime lead (31-19) grew to 18 points at the end of the third quarter. Hall led with eight of their 17 points and they took a 48-30 lead going into the final frame.
Free throws began to fall in the fourth quarter for Fulton County and they cut the Lady Marshals lead down to 10 points at 54-44. The Lady Marshals stretched their lead back to 17 points but a 3-pointer by Kylee Harrison who hit three in the quarter for Fulton County, trimmed it to 65-51.
With 28 seconds remaining, Fulton County’s Brown scored and drew the foul, hitting her free throw and cutting the Lady Marshals lead down to nine points at 65-56 which would be the final score. Brown, a sophomore, with her final basket of the game earned her 1,000th career point at Fulton County.
Holder expects his team to come out ready to go on Friday and was happy to get the first regional tournament win adding, “Despite turnovers, despite giving up offensive rebounds…there was still a lot of good at times in that game tonight so we’ve got to make sure that “good” is consistent going into Friday.”
Henson led in scoring with 20 points which earned her Player of the Game honors. Brown led Fulton County with 18 points. The Lady Marshals were 16-of-25 at the line and hit three 3-pointers, one each by Morton, Mia Teague and Laken Schroader. Fulton County was 23-of-39 from the free throw line and hit four 3-pointers, all by Harrison.
Marshall County 14 17 17 17 – 65
Fulton County 10 9 11 26 – 56
Marshall County (18-14): Chevelle Henson 20, Georgia Hall 14, Izzy Washburn 11, Laken Schroader 6, Madyson Morton 4, Peyton Weitlauf 4, Mia Teague 4, Harli English 2
Fulton County (11-10): LaMesha Brown 18, Kylee Harrison 15, Emily Scott 10, Hannah Murphy 6, Jaleeha Smith 4, Ja Vona Davis 3
Marshall County vs. Fulton County, 1st Region Tournament
