A much-anticipated rematch between Marshall County and Calloway County provided an exciting night of high school basketball Friday in a packed Reed Conder Gymnasium.
After the two top teams in Region 1 and top teams in the state battled through 32 minutes of play, Calloway County came out on top 65-60 and gave the Marshals their first loss of the 2024-2025 season and there are now no remaining undefeated teams left in Kentucky.
In his post-game comments, Head Coach Sawyer Donohoo said knowing his players, they will be better for this and what defines the rest of the season is how they respond.
The Marshals ran away with a 79-52 victory in the first game against the Lakers on January 14 behind a career high 40 points from Matthew Langhi. On that night, they held Calloway County’s leading scorer Jonah Butler to 15 points but on Friday Butler answered the call and scored 35 points to fuel the Lakers win.
In a slow offensive start for the Marshals, they put their first points on the board three minutes in and it was followed by a 3-pointer from Stephen Lane for a 7-2 Calloway County lead. The Lakers took a 14-6 lead to end the first quarter behind the scoring of Eli Finley and Butler. Butler also picked up two early fouls.
The Lakers continued to hold the lead through a majority of the second quarter while Butler was called for his third foul of the night. Trailing 23-16, the Marshals finished out the quarter on a 10-0 run to take their first lead and head to halftime up 26-23.
The 10-0 run began on a basket by Langhi followed by a slam from the sophomore after a Calloway County turnover. Kaden Mohler tied the game up with a 3-pointer and Langhi gave them the three point lead with a three.
Butler ended the first half with 10 points and three fouls but the Stony Brook University signee was just getting started with a 25-point second half to follow.
The Marshals took their largest lead of the game at 36-27 in the third quarter before a 7-0 run by the Lakers cut it down to two points. An Alex Staples 3-pointer ended the run but the Lakers were back in it, holding the Marshals lead to two heading into the fourth quarter.
Butler tied the game up at 46-46 to open the fourth and it was the start of an 8-0 Calloway County run that ended on a 3-pointer by Tommy Robertson. Butler drew his fourth foul while Mohler and Ryan Stokes both fouled out for the Marshals.
The Lakers 3-point advantage would extend out to eight in the closing minute of play.
Baskets by Staples trimmed the Lakers lead down to five points twice in the final 42 seconds and it was as close as they would get, falling by five at the final buzzer.
Staples and Langhi each finished with 21 points for the Marshals. Their record now stands at 23-1 while Calloway County improves to 24-3.
J.T. Hall, Tanner Linsin, Blake Moore, Kyzer Phillips, Tommy Robertson and Alex Staples were recognized before the game on Senior Night.
The Marshals play again today in Benton, Ill. against Mascoutah High School at 5:00.
Marshall County 6 26 46 60
Calloway County 14 23 44 65
Marshall County (23-1): Alex Staples 21, Matthew Langhi 21, Tommy Robertson 9, Kaden Mohler 5, Neyland Jezik 2, Kyzer Phillips 2
Calloway County (24-3): Jonah Butler 35, Eli Finley 13, Luke Armstrong 9, Stephen Lane 8