Heading to Calloway County on Friday, the Marshals were looking to sweep the regular season series with the Lakers to gain some momentum when they play them again in the semi-final of the 4th District Tournament.
Since their loss to the Marshals on January 19, the Lakers have won seven straight and they extended that streak to eight with Friday’s 58-53 win. The Marshals district record drops to 3-3 and Calloway County improves to 4-2. Murray earns the district tournament’s top seed at 5-1, their only loss coming from the Lakers.
The Lakers first three field goals of the game were three pointers to lead 9-4. Logan Parker hit a three to cut it to two points, but it was as close as they would get the rest of the quarter, trailing 22-13.
Alex Staples dropped in a three to open the second quarter but it was answered with a three by Calloway County’s Jonah Butler. It was the start of five straight from behind the arc, the next three from Kaden Mohler and two straight by Kyzer Phillips to tie the game up at 25.
Tied up again at 29, a free throw from Butler put the Lakers up by one and the half ended on a basket by Parker that gave the Marshals their first lead at 31-30 since their 2-0 start.
The Marshals outscored the Lakers by one in the third quarter to take a 42-40 lead into the final eight minutes. Staples and Eli Finley for the Lakers, each had seven points to lead the scoring.
Calloway County knocked down the first six points of the fourth quarter and with 2:45 remaining, Parker scored, was fouled and gave the Marshals a much-needed three point play to cut the Lakers lead to 48-47.
From there, the Lakers outscored the Marshals by four to finish out the 58-53 win despite going 4-of-11 at the free throw line in the closing two minutes.
Staples led the Marshals with 23 points, Finley finished with 19 to lead the Lakers. At the free throw line, the Marshals were 5-of-9 and Calloway County 9-of-17.
Next up on Tuesday, the Marshals will host Webster County.
Marshall 13 18 11 11 – 53
Calloway 22 8 10 18 – 58
Marshall (17-6): Alex Staples 23, Kyzer Phillips 12, Logan Parker 10, Kaden Mohler 3, Matthew Langhi 3, Tommy Robertson 3
Marshall: FG 21/47, 3PT 6/16 (Staples 2, Phillips 2), FT 5/9, Reb 34 (Parker 13)
Calloway (13-8): Eli Finley 19, Jonah Butler 15, Peyton Weatherford 7, Conner Lockhart 7, Luke Armstrong 7, Steven Lane 3
Calloway: FG 21/42, 3PT 7/20, FT 9/16, Reb 19