Bombing Ballard

Marshals advance in
regional tournament
with win over
Ballard Memorial

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

MURRAY– Playing in round one of the 1st Region Basketball Tournament at Murray State’s RSEC, the Marshals met the Ballard Memorial Bombers. Ballard advanced to the 1st Region Tournament out of the 3rd District where they lost in the championship game to Graves County.

The Marshals wasted no time getting points on the board over Ballard. After a Chase York three point shot, the Marshal lead was 10-3. Ballard cut into the Marshals lead near the end of the quarter trailing the Marshals 15-11 at the end of the second quarter.

A field goal by Steven Atkinson once again extended the Marshals lead to nine, 24-15, in the second quarter. Ballard battled back again to close the gap to 30-25. A technical foul was called against the Marshall County bench and free throws made by Ballard’s Alex Mallory cut the lead to 30-27. Ballard added another field goal to cut the Marshals lead to 30-29 at the half.

In the third quarter of play, Ballard tied it up with the Marshals at 31. York was fouled making a lay-up and made the free throw swinging the momentum back towards the Marshals. Field goals by Blake Clark and Atkinson extended the lead to 38-31. Atkinson’s scoring spree of five field goals in a row put the Marshals up 48-38 going into the fourth quarter.

A basket by Clark gave the Marshals their biggest lead of the game 50-38. Despite being outrebounded by Ballard 31 to 23 the Marshals were able to maintain a 10 point lead throughout most of the fourth quarter in part by their points off turnovers. The Marshals win by a final 63-53 and advance to the semi-finals in the 1st Region Tournament.

Atkinson led all scorers with 22 points, many of those coming off assists from Blake Clark. The Marshals played Paducah Tilghman in the semi-finals Monday. The Marshals have split with the Tornados this season, losing in overtime 61-53 in the Superman Classic and beating them on their home court 91-76.

“Taking care of the ball, playing solid defense and getting defensive rebounds is what we need to do to beat Tilghman Monday night,” said Coach Gus Gillespie.

The other semi final contest in the 1st Region Tournament on Monday is between Graves County and Heath.