Marshall County set a new program record at 20-0 after defeating McCracken County 64-53 last Saturday. Meanwhile, St. Mary came into Thursday’s game at Reed Conder Gymnasium with their own momentum, having beaten McCracken County 68-46 on Tuesday, marking their first win over the Mustangs in a decade.
The Marshals, being the only undefeated team in the state and holding impressive state-wide rankings (#4 in the coach’s poll and #2 in KHSAA RPI rankings) will get each opponents best effort and that’s what they got with St. Mary.
It was as close as it could get through the first three quarters with the Vikings winning the glass and grabbing loose balls. Trailing by two heading into the fourth quarter, the Marshals offense showed up and showed out in the final eight minutes, outscoring St. Mary 30-8 to earn the 20-point win.
Two minutes ticked off the clock after the opening tip before either team put points on the board. The Marshals struck first on a basket by Tommy Robertson. Brett Haas broke the early scoring drought for St. Mary with a 3-pointer a minute later and the game was on.
Matthew Langhi and Robertson each hit threes while Luke Simms scored seven straight for the Vikings to draw the game even at 10-10. Kyzer Phillips, under the goal on an assist from Kaden Mohler, put the Marshals up by two before Haas tied it up again at 12 to end the quarter.
St. Mary managed to maintain their lead for most of the second quarter, thanks to a 3-pointer by Sims and free throws from Haas and Griffin Mayes. The Marshals tied the game at 21-21, but St. Mary pulled ahead again before Mohler’s put-back basket just before halftime trimmed the Vikings lead down to one at 24-23.
Back-to-back buckets by Phillips and Langhi put the Marshals up 27-24 to start the second half. They would maintain a slight lead until a 3-pointer from Mayes gave St. Mary their first lead of the quarter at 36-34.
Phillips drained a three following a flurry of scoring attempts under the goal by the Marshals and their lead was one before a mid-court buzzer beater by Sims put the Vikings on top 40-38.
A put-back by Langhi off a rebound tied the game up at 40 and he went on to score the first 12 points of the Marshals 19-0 run that followed. They shut down the St. Mary offense, holding them to just one point until the final minute and a half, going on to outscore them 30-8 in the fourth quarter.
Langhi led the Marshals with 22 points, Phillips scored 19 and Robertson 12. Langhi and Phillips both scored 17 of their points in the second half. Phillips and Langhi each hit three 3-pointers to lead in the team’s combined nine. They were 15-of-25 at the free throw line.
St. Mary was led by Simms with 22 points and he hit four of the Viking’s seven 3-pointers.
Marshall County will travel to Mayfield on Friday to take on Graves County in the Brewers vs. Cuba Glory Road Heritage Game.
Marshall County 15 23 38 68
St. Mary 12 24 40 48
Marshall County (21-0): Matthew Langhi 22, Kyzer Phillips 19, Tommy Robertson 12, Neyland Jezik 5, Kaden Mohler 3, Alex Staples 3, Ryan Stokes 2, J.T. Hall 2
St. Mary (15-6): Luke Sims 22, Brett Haas 13, Griffin Mayes 10, Andrew Puckett 3
Marshals vs. St. Mary
