Cardinals provide tough test in next-to-last game

By Caitlin Wardlow
Tribune-Courier Reporter

DRAFFENVILLE – Despite what head coach Gus Gillespie called a “tough ball game,” the Marshals were able to come out with a 60-57 win over the Mayfield Cardinals Friday night.

“We expected a tough one,” Gillespie said. “That’s what we got. We [would] get up the first half and play well for about two minute spurts then relax a little bit, and they’d come right back on us.”

Mayfield was the first to score Friday night, but forward Logan Holland put four points on the board with back-to-back baskets in the first minute and a half of the game. A field goal by Mayfield’s Tony Hockett brought the score to a 4-4 tie, and the Cardinals continued on an 8-0 run before the Marshals called their first timeout with just under five minutes left in the first quarter.

Coming out of that timeout, MCHS committed two turnovers, but with a bounce pass from Scott McKenty to Denver Seay, the Marshals cut the lead to four points. Two more times in the first quarter, Seay scored with an assist from McKenty. The Marshals ended the first quarter with a 12-2 run, putting them ahead 16-12.

Gillespie said the players are unselfish with the basketball and that helps to make great plays and assists.

“Scott [McKenty] really played well,” Gillespie said. “He had foul trouble [against Murray last week], and tonight he played awfully well. That’s what we needed from him. He can score and he can pass it. He’d be a fun kid to play with because he’s unselfish with the ball.” McKenty recorded seven assists against Mayfield.

Cory York opened the second quarter with an assist to Travis Spiceland who capitalized on a three-point field goal.

Shortly after a field goal by McKenty followed by his own steal, the Cardinals made their first three-point field goal of the night. McKenty answered with a three-pointer and brought the Marshals up 26-17.

Four consecutive baskets later, including a three-pointer, and the Cardinals tied the Marshals at 26-26. Josh Madding hit a free throw and Mayfield hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send both teams to the locker room with Mayfield in front 29-27.

Gillespie said he was concerned with the Marshals’ defense after the first half.

“It was a frustrating game from a defensive standpoint,” Gillespie said. “We felt like we couldn’t make them miss continuous baskets. We have to sharpen up our defense.”

The Marshals remained behind the Cardinals for half of the third quarter until a three-point field goal by McKenty brought the score to 38-38. About 15 seconds later, McKenty made a basket and drew a foul, putting the Marshals ahead 41-38, where they would stay, except for one more tie, for the rest of the game.

Down by three with three seconds to go, Mayfield’s Jordan Elliot missed a three-pointer to end the game.

Although Gillespie said he plans to work hard with the team on their defensive strategies, he was pleased with the game Friday night.

“The bottom line is, when you win a game like this and maybe you weren’t kicking on all cylinders, you’ve got to feel good,” Gillespie said, “because you weren’t at your best and you still got a win.”

It was the Marshals’ and Cardinals’ second meeting this year, and MCHS won both. There is, however, a chance the two could meet again in the 1st Region Tournament.

“You never know,” Gillespie said. “You could play them again in the regional tournament and they’re a good basketball team, so that would be interesting.”

Marshall County 60,
Mayfield 57
Friday @ Draffenville

Marshall County 16 11 20 13
Mayfield 12 17 14 14

TEAM STATS
Shooting
Overall: MC 47.6% (20/42)
MF 56.1% (23/41)
3-pointers: MC 38.5% (5/13) MF 41.7% (5/12)
Free throws: MC 83.3% (15/18)
MF 50% (6/12)

Turnovers MC 12
MF 18
Rebounds: MC 21 (Holland 5)
MF 24 (Elliott 7)
Assists: MC 13 (McKenty 7)
MF 9
Blocks: MC 0
MF 0
Steals: MC 10 (McKenty 5)
MF 9 (Shelton 3)
Fouls: MC 18
MF 16
Fouled out: MC - none
MF - McCuiston

INDIVIDUAL STATS
MC: Dowdy 1-1 2, Spiceland 2-12 (2-6) 2-2 8; McKenty 6-7 (3-4) 5-5 20; Madding 2-4 1-2 5; York 1-4 2; Seay 6-8 7-8 19; Holland 2-5 4

MF: Shelton 5-7 (2-3) 1-2 13; Murrell 2-5 (1-1) 5; Hockett 9-17 (1-3) 4-7 23; McCuiston 1-2 (1-2) 3; Elliott 6-8 1-2 13