Shots take wind out of Tornadoes

Wilson, York break
20-point plateau as
team nearly flawless
from the field

By Ann Beckett
Tribune-Courier Sports
sports@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE– It was payback time for the Marshals who lost to Paducah Tilghman Jan. 23 in overtime at the Massac County Superman Classic.

“The shots made from the free throw line were the difference in the game” said Marshal’s head coach Gus Gillespie. The Marshals were nearly perfect from the line shooting 88.9 percent in last Thursday’s 91-76 win over the Tornadoes.

“These are shots we make in practice and tonight we made them in the game,” said Gillespie, who was proud of his team’s performance. The Marshals also shot 60.9 percent from the field and were 11 for 17 from the three point arc.

Tanner Wilson started things off in the first quarter knocking down one of his five three pointers on the night. Wilson hit two more three point shots to extend the Marshal lead over Tilghman 11-4. Chase York added a three of his own and extended the lead to 14-7. Paducah Tilghman’s J. D. Harmon rallied his team with a dunk and a field goal to close the gap to 14-13. With the score tied at 18 and nine seconds left on the clock, Chase York was fouled while shooting a long range three before time ran out. York made all three at the line and the Marshals headed to the second quarter with a 20-18 lead.

Another Harmon two followed by a dunk and Paducah Tilghman went up 22-21 over the Marshals in the second quarter. Wilson added his fourth three of the night followed by two baskets from Stephen Atkinson and the Marshals took back the lead 28-24. With 2:35 left in the second the Marshals held their biggest lead of the game at 41-29. Tilghman hits a three at the buzzer and the Marshals took a 46-36 lead at halftime.

Wilson, York and John Carter all added three’s in the third quarter while Atkinson tore up the boards in rebounds. The Marshals held a nine point lead going into the fourth quarter 62-53.

At the halfway point in the fourth, the Marshals built a 74-61 lead over the Tornadoes and were firmly in control. With just over two minutes to play the Marshals held a 19 point lead over Paducah Tilghman. With three seconds to go in the game, Blake Clark is fouled making both at the line and the Marshals knocked off Tilghman by a final score 91-76.

Four Marshals scored double figures. Atkinson had another double-double night bringing down an impressive 19 rebounds. Chase York led all scorers with 26 points, fifteen of those from the three point arc.

The Marshals have a week to prepare to host the Graves County Eagles at Reed Conder Gymnasium on Friday.