Ann Beckett/Tribune-Courier || Andrew Edwards drives to the basket against Calloway County's Josh Humphreys.

Early lead slips away from Calloway County

Marshals rally before the
break to top Lakers

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

CALLOWAY CO.–Stephen Atkinson made the only two baskets the Marshals had in the first quarter of play against the Calloway County Lakers. Off to a slow start offensively, the Marshals trailed the Lakers 15-4 at the end of the quarter.

Down by 14 points with a score of 20-6, the Marshals began chipping away at the Calloway lead. Near the 2:00 minute mark in the second quarter, after baskets by Atkinson, Cole Nelson and Chase York, the Marshals were trailing by four, 24-20. Tanner Wilson took a hard fall while being fouled and made one of two from the line. An Atkinson steal and basket by York put the Marshals on top at half time, 27-26.

The third quarter was a defensive battle with both teams adding only six points to their totals, ending the third quarter with the Marshals still on top by one, 33-32.

The fourth quarter had all the makings of a typical Marshall County-Calloway County match up. At the beginning of the fourth the two teams were tied at 33 and at the halfway point in the quarter were tied again at 38. With Calloway up by one 40-41, Atkinson was fouled by Shawn Thompson which was his fifth foul and while walking off the court was served with a technical, giving Atkinson the chance at four points at the line. Atkinson sank all four free throws putting the Marshals back in the lead 48-45.

Two more shots at the line from York extended the lead to 50-45. Nelson is fouled with 34 seconds in the game, making both shots putting the Marshals in the lead by five again, 52-47. Another basket by Calloway and a foul on Blake Clark and the lead was again five, 54-49.

With 10.3 seconds left in the game and the score 56-51, the Marshals took the ball out under the Calloway goal. Clark was fouled, sinking one of two; the Marshals won with a final score of 57-51.

The Marshals improved on their free throw shooting with 19 of 28 from the line, most of those coming in the second half of play.

Lone Oak will host the Marshals tonight with the girls playing in the first game at 6 p.m.

Community Christian Academy will visitReed Condor Gymnasium Friday to play the Marshals in their homecoming game.