Late rally falls short
against Rebels

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

PANAMA, FLA.–Marshall County played the Franklin, Tenn., Rebels for third place honors in the Marlin Christmas Classic on Wednesday. The Rebels were considered one of the strongest and most physical teams in the tournament.

Franklin lost in the semi-final round to the team from Niceville, Fla., who played Arnold for the tournament championship following Marshall County’s game. In earlier action, Hopkinsville beat Bartram Trail 50-46, for fifth place.

The Marshals were a little slow out of the start, taking almost three minutes until they put a point on the board, trailing the Rebels 4-1. The Rebels extended their lead by 10 until the Marshals made their first field goal of the game and drew a foul bringing the score to 11-4. The Marshals could only manage one more point during the quarter, trailing the Rebels 5-18.

Down by 16 in the second quarter, the Marshals rallied on free throws by Blake Clark and Stephen Atkinson and a couple of threes by Chase York and Colby Wiseman to draw within 11 of Franklin, 29-18. A field goal by Franklin at the end of the quarter extended their lead over the Marshals by 13 at the half.

The Marshals pulled themselves to within nine of Franklin in the third quarter after an Atkinson three, only to be hit with two three’s by Franklin, trailing 40-28. Tanner Wilson sank a three drawing the Marshals to within nine of Franklin once again. Chase York fouled out at the end of the third and the Marshals trailed Franklin, 45-31.

Marshall County was quickly back to within nine in the fourth when Wilson hits another three bringing the score to 45-36. The Marshals made several runs but Franklin made big shots when they had to, extending their lead again.

Clark and John Carter both came up with three’s in the fourth but with the score 60-46, Marshall had to begin fouling, finally falling to the Rebels by a final score of 62-48.

Stephen Atkinson led the Marshals with 14 points. The team loaded the bus immediately following the game to drive back home and begin preparing for a big district game against Calloway County on Saturday, Jan. 2.

The tournament championship was captured by the Niceville, Florida team with a 65-42 win over the Arnold Marlins.