Missed opportunities by the Marshals in the final 25.9 seconds with six straight free throw misses by McCracken County, led to their second loss of the season to the Mustangs in Friday’s Gunner’s Magic Train Classic game. Head Coach Terry Birdsong thought the effort was there from his players but they just couldn’t get the ball in the basket.
The Marshals missed the strong inside presence of senior Matt French who is out with an ankle injury in the 39-34 loss that began on a 7-0 Marshall County lead, the first five points coming from Skyler Smith who opened the game with a 3-pointer. Bryce Flatt made it a 7-0 game before the Mustangs scored their first points of the game five minutes in to the first quarter, going on to score seven straight to tie 7-7, their first five points coming from Jackson Sivills.
A 3-pointer from Trevor Winsett gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game at 12-11 in the second quarter that was stretched out to a five point lead. Aaron Reed’s basket and free throw and 3-pointer by Smith that beat the buzzer cut the Mustangs lead to one at halftime.
Three ties in the third quarter with the Marshals scoring split between Reed, Smith, Austin Riley and Tyler Powell and eight of the Mustangs 10 points coming from Cam Cartwright made it a 27-27 game, the final shot of the quarter dropped in by Mitchell Guthrie for a two-point McCracken County lead.
The defensive battle continued in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs taking a six point lead with three minutes to go, spreading the floor and knocking time off the clock. Pressuring for a turnover, the Marshals came up with the ball with a minute and a half remaining, into the hands of Reed whose long half court throw found the net but was called off on a foul committed on Smith.
Smith dropped in both free throws to cut the Mustang lead to 39-35 with 31.5 seconds to go. The Marshals sent Cartwright, Wes Belt and Nathan Stonecipher to the line in the final 25.9 seconds, none of the six free throws finding the net, leaving the door open for the Marshals but unable to convert shots into points.
The Marshals will play Arnold, FL at 6:00 today in the Gunner’s Magic Train Classic. Arnold lost to Calloway County 65-21 in the final game on Friday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| McCracken | 7 | 19 | 27 | 35 |
| Marshall | 7 | 18 | 29 | 39 |
SCORING
Marshall: Smith 17, Reed 7, Powell 5, Flatt 2, Riley 2, Stokes 2
*check back for more stats from this game
