Marshall County advances to the Mercy Health First Region championship game for the first time in four years after defeating Paducah Tilghman 63-57 on Saturday afternoon at the CFSB Center in Murray.
The Marshals will meet McCracken County in the title game at 2:30 on Sunday. The Mustangs beat Murray 47-37 in Saturday’s first semifinal. This will be their seventh consecutive appearance in the regional championship game and will be defending last year’s title.
Marshall County and Paducah Tilghman met twice during the regular season. The Marshals taking wins in both by scores of 59-58 and 62-54. Before those two wins, the Blue Tornado won the previous five straight contests.
Matthew Langhi hit a three-pointer to open the scoring in Saturday’s semifinal. The freshman led the Marshals with eight first quarter points and Kyzer Phillips scored five to give the Marshals an 18-13 lead.
A basket by Alex Staples off a Cash Henson pass put them up by seven to open the second quarter. Miles Woodfork hit an open three to cut the lead to 22-17 before a Tommy Robertson run of six straight points put the Marshals on top 28-19. A free throw from Kaden Mohler gave them a 10-point lead heading into the halftime locker room.
Staples scored, drew the foul and converted the free throw to put the Marshals up by 13 to start the second half. Robertson scored consecutive goals to keep the Marshals lead at 11 and despite uncharacteristic misses at the free throw line, they held onto a 12-point lead to end the third quarter up 46-34.
The Marshals 12-point lead was cut to four at 57-53 in the fourth with Woodfork having his best quarter for Paducah Tilghman with 11 points. Robertson, Mohler and Staples converted free throws in the closing seconds of the game to finish out the six-point win.
Robertson led a trio of Marshals in double figures with 16 points followed by Langhi and Staples with 15 each. Woodfork finished with 24 for Paducah Tilghman.
The Marshals will be looking for their first regional championship in 12 years. The last title came in 2012 when current Marshall County assistant, Cole Nelson, was a senior.
Marshall 18 11 17 17 – 63
Paducah 13 6 15 23 – 57
Marshall (24-7): Tommy Robertson 16, Alex Staples 15, Matthew Langhi 15, Kyzer Phillips 7, Orrin Phelps 4, Kaden Mohler 4, Logan Park 2
Paducah (15-16): Miles Woodfork 24, Joshua Campbell 15, Avery Thompson 5, James Harris 5, Jemarion Purdiman 5, Omari Williams 3