Ranked #4 in the state according to the state-wide media poll released January 21 and with a perfect 18-0 record coming into Friday’s game against Paducah Tilghman, the Marshals are a top target and will get the best effort from their opponents each time they take the floor.
That proved true on Friday at Reed Conder Gymnasium when the Marshals played Paducah Tilghman on Homecoming night. The Blue Tornado hung around for over three quarters and were hard to shake until the Marshals began to put a little distance between them in the closing three to four minutes to get the 72-61 win.
At 19-0, the Marshals tie the all-time best undefeated start in the program and have a chance to make history when they host McCracken County on Saturday.
Paducah Tilghman never led in the game but tied Marshall County five times, three of which came late in the third quarter. Each time the Marshals gained an edge, the Blue Tornado came roaring back to close to within one or two points.
An early 7-4 lead by the Marshals was knotted up by Tilghman on a 3-pointer by Miles Woodfork. Tommy Robertson dropped in his second 3-pointer in the early minutes to push the Marshals lead back to three.
The Marshals took their largest lead in the first by seven points twice and a 3-pointer from Matthew Langhi finished off the quarter on a 20-14 lead.
Robertson, who led the Marshals with 21 points, dropped in his third 3-pointer and followed it up with a great second effort basket to hold the Marshals lead at five. Joshua Campbell trimmed it down to three points for Tilghman before a 3-pointer from Kyzer Phillips pushed the Marshals lead back out to a six.
Ryan Stokes finished out the half with a lay in to send the Marshals into the halftime break up 33-28.
A quick basket by Campbell for the Blue Tornado to start the second half cut the Marshals lead to three. Valuable points from Phillips and Robertson kept the Marshals on top but Tilghman knotted the game up at 41 on a three-point play by Ahmad Wilkins.
All even at 43 each, Robertson’s fifth three was answered at the other end by a Tilghman three from Owen Mikel and it was all square again at 46. Alex Staples scored to wrap up the third quarter for the Marshals on a 48-46 lead.
Phillips fired up the crowd with a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter. Kaden Mohler and Langhi combined to put the Marshals up by seven and Tilghman stayed within five points on scoring from Campbell and Woodfork, trimming it to four points at 59-54 on a free throw.
A Phillips to Langhi basket followed up by another quick basket from Langhi prompted a Tilghman time out with 3:11 remaining in the game and a 63-55 Marshall County lead. The determined Marshals finished out the final three minutes, outscoring the Blue Tornado 9-6 to win by 11 which would be their largest lead of the night.
The Marshals made an uncharacteristic low number of trips to the free throw line but they converted on all four. They made eight 3-pointers, five by Robertson and three from Phillips. The Blue Tornado had five 3-pointers and went 8-of-10 at the free throw line.
Marshall County 20 33 48 72
Paducah Tilghman 14 28 46 61
Marshall County (19-0): Tommy Robertson 21, Matthew Langhi 20, Kyzer Phillips 11, Alex Staples 8, Ryan Stokes 6, Kaden Mohler 6
Marshall County: FG 30/55, 3PT 8/22, FT 4/4, REB 27
Paducah Tilghman (9-9): Miles Woodfork 21, Joshua Campbell 19, Owen Mikel 11, Ahmad Wilkins 6, Avery Thompson 4
Paducah Tilghman: FG 23/49, 3PT 5/12, FT 10/13, REB 23
