Marshall County and Murray High boys tipped off around 7:30 last Tuesday, but the game was suspended at 1:11 in the first quarter due to condensation on the gymnasium floor. The Marshals were trailing Murray 9-4 when the game was rescheduled for Sunday at 2:00.
After defeating Calloway County on Thursday, the Marshals faced a must-win situation on Sunday to secure the number one seed for the district tournament and the automatic spot in the regional tournament, but Murray had the same goal.
Picking up where they left off, Will Lovins dropped in two free throws for Murray before Jay Nimmo buried a three at the end of the first quarter to cut the Murray lead to 11-7. Murray senior RaVichael Strickland scored the first six points of the second quarter to put the Tigers up 17-9. Nimmo hit a 3-pointer to cut the Murray lead back to five points but that was followed up by a 3-pointer from eighth grader Grant Whitaker to stretch the Tigers lead back out to seven, and they held the seven point lead at halftime.
Lovins stretched the Murray lead out to nine points to start the second half. In need of a basket, the Marshals got one from Tyler Stokes but that was followed by two straight Murray buckets from Lovins and Strickland for a 28-17 Tiger lead. Tyler Powell gave the Marshals four points on a field goal and free throws followed by a steal and lay in by Kade Driver to cut Murray’s lead to seven. Stickland scored for the Tigers to end the third quarter on a 32-23 Murray lead.
Dawson Smothers and Powell opened the fourth with baskets to pull the Marshals to within five points and they would get as close as four following a three point play by Bryce Flatt with three and half minutes to go. Under two minutes remaining, a 3-pointer by Powell kept the Marshals within four points but a turnover led to free throws by Whitaker to give the Tigers a 39-33 lead. Three free throws in the closing seconds from Utley gave Murray the 42-33 win and 4th District regular season title
The Marshals will play Calloway County on their home court in the district tournament on Feb. 19, the winner advancing to the district title game against Murray and earning the automatic berth to the regional tournament.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| Marshall | 7 | 15 | 23 | 33 |
| Murray | 11 | 22 | 32 | 42 |
Marshall: Powell 14, Stokes 6, Nimmo 6, Flatt 3, Smothers 2, Driver 2
Murray: Strickland 17, Whitaker 7, Utley 6, Lovins 6, Duffy 2, McCallister 2, Waldrop 2