Marshall’s open
season with nailbiter
over Massac 77-70

By Jody Norwood
Tribune-Courier Sports Editor
jnorwood@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE– If the rest of the season is like their first game, the Marshals may be one of the most exciting teams to watch in high school hoops. Marshall County led all but the final minute of their season opener against Massac County, Ill., Thursday during Hoop Fest. Marshall forced the game into overtime before polishing off the Patriots 77-70.

After controlling the first half, Marshall County took its largest lead of the night 50-38 in the final minute of the third quarter. Cole Nelson used an offensive rebound to earn the 12-point advantage with 57 seconds left in the quarter.

The Patriots answered back with a trey by Tyler Sommer. Sommer opened the next quarter with another 3-point basket as the Patriots began to chip away at the lead.

The Marshals outscored the Patriots 10-8 through the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Patriots used a 9-3 scoring run over the next two minutes to get within a basket. Malcolm Amos put the Patriots in control 64-63 with a 3-point basket inside the final minute, Massac’s first lead of the night. Jarelle Johnson extended the lead hitting one from the stripe with 16 seconds remaining.

But Marshall County wasn’t out of the contest yet. The Patriots sent Stephen Atkinson to the line in the final seconds. Atkinson hit both ends, tying the game 65-all. Neither team got a look at the basket as regulation expired.

Blake Clark opened the four minute overtime period with a jumper to give Marshall County control 67-65. The Patriots would tie the game one more time before a trey by Clark put the Marshals in control 70-67. Taking advantage of Massac’s fouls, Marshall went a flawless 6-of-6 from the free throw line, outscoring the Patriots 10-3 over the final two minutes for the win.

For the night, the Marshals made more of their shots than the Patriots, hitting 26-of-45 to Massac’s 22-of-58. The Marshals also hit 16-of-20 free throws compared to Massac’s 18-of-27. Marshall County pulled in a total of 33 rebounds to Massac’s 30.

Clark led Marshall County’s scoring with 19, hitting two 3-point attempts and going 5-for-6 from the line. Clark also led the Marshals in assists with eight.

Tanner Wilson (15 points, two assists) and Chase York (14 points, two assists, four rebounds) also earned double-digit scoring for the Marshals. York was almost perfect on the night, hitting 5-of-5 field goals, 1-of-1 outside the arc and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.

Three more Marshals– Colby Wiseman, Stephen Atkinson and Cole Nelson– added nine points each. Andrew Edwards hit a lone attempt for two points.