Another full Reed Conder Gymnasium and boisterous Marshall County O-Zone section were treated to a great game between Marshall County and Prodigy Prep (FL) in Saturday evening’s Hoopfest. Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl and Louisville Head Coach Chris Mack, a couple of the coaches on hand to watch Zion Harmon who scored 33, was five of six from the line and hit four 3-pointers.
The Marshals efforts fell short in an 84-76 loss. Prodigy Prep’s Emmanuel Maldonado scored 34 points, hitting 10 of 17 from behind the arc which set a new Hoopfest record, breaking the old record of nine set in 2006 by Gabriel Charley of Arlington Country Day (FL). Julian Newman was 0/7 in the first half, the Marshals shutting down any efforts he made to the goal but for the night, he finished 3/15, nine points from 3-point range and 4/4 in free throws.
Tyler Powell opened the game with a Marshall County three followed by four points from Prodigy Prep to take the lead, one they would hold throughout the game. The Marshals trailed 18-10 at the end of the first quarter, 12 of Prodigy Prep’s points coming from 3-point range while Harmon scored the final six of the quarter for the Marshals.
Jay Nimmo cut the lead to five with a three to open the second quarter scoring followed by a free throw by Tyler Stokes that cut it to four. Two straight threes from Maldonado and Kobe Rivera and the Prodigy Prep lead was back to 10. Powell and Harmon dropped in threes to keep the Marshals within reach and trailing 34-20, they went on to out-score Prodigy Prep 9-3 to cut the halftime lead to eight points at 37-29.
Newman hit a three to open the second half with his first points of the game. Marshall County out-scored Prodigy Prep by one point in the third quarter, scoring coming from Harmon with seven, Powell five points, Stokes four, Kaden Driver three and Bryce Flatt with two. Prodigy Prep hit five threes to stay up by seven points at 57-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
Stokes and Harmon opened the fourth with baskets to pull the Marshals to within three points and with 4:58 remaining, Nimmo’s three made it a one point game at 62-61. From that point, half of Prodigy Prep’s final 24 points came off the three, holding the Marshals off despite another 11 points from Harmon for an eight point win.
Prodigy Prep 18 37 57 84
Marshall County 10 29 50 76
Prodigy Prep: Emmanuel Maldonado 34, Milan Harrison 13, Julian Newman 13, Kobe Rivera 9, Richie Hinds 6, Rohan Smith 4, Wilfred Diaz 3
Marshall County: Zion Harmon 33, Tyler Stokes 16, Tyler Powell 11, Jay Nimmo 6, Kaden Driver 6, Bryce Flatt 4
Prodigy Prep: FG 28/66, 3 Pt 19/39, FT 9/11, TR 37, PF 18, AST 6, TO 8, ST 8
Marshall County: FG 28/57, 3 Pt 11/26, FT 9/14, TR 33, PF 11, AST 9, TO 11, ST 2
