Nostalgic final high school games played at Benton Middle School gymnasium

BENTON – The last time a regular season high school basketball game was played in the gymnasium at Benton Middle School as still Benton High School was in 1974. High School games continued to be played at the gym through 1980 until the current Reed Conder Gymnasium was built. Last night marked the final high school games played on the David Davis Court at Chambers Memorial Gymnasium.

The Lady Marshals and Marshals played Fulton County Thursday at Benton Middle School in tribute to former players and coaches that played there before them. Next year Benton Middle and South Marshall Middle will form a new middle school, marking an end of an era for both gymnasiums. On January 16th, the high school teams will play at the South Marshall Middle gymnasium against Crittenden County.

In the first game of the double-header, the Lady Marshals had no trouble with Fulton County, leading 19-2 at the end of the first quarter and a 34-4 lead at halftime in part by three 3-pointers in the quarter by Briley English, and two from Miyah Davis.

The Lady Marshals would go on to out-score Fulton County 25-8 in the second half for a 59-12 win, extending their early season record to 5-0.
Briley English led in scoring with 13 points followed by Hannah Langhi with 11.

SCORING
Fulton Co: Cermax 8, Jackson 2, Warren 2
Marshall: B English 13, Langhi 11, Howard 9, L Miller 8, Davis 8, Fehrenbacher 4, Bridges 3, Henson 2, H English 1
Fulton Co: Field Goals 5/24, Free Throws 2/6, Rebounds 17, Fouls 10, Turnovers 16
Marshall: Field Goals 24/45, 3-pointers 6/14, Free Throws 5/7, Rebounds 38, Fouls 10, Assists 16, Steals 10

Aaron Reed scored the first two points for the Marshals against Fulton County on his way to a 28-point night, but after that Fulton County jumped out to a 9-3 lead. The Marshals cut the deficit on a basket and free throw by Reed and two straight goals by Dawson Jolley to trail 11-10 before taking the lead on a Brady Morgan basket, a lead the Marshals would hold on to the rest of the game.

Leading 20-13 after the first quarter, Fulton County cut that seven point lead to six at halftime with second quarter scoring coming from Reed, Jolley and Skyler Smith.

A big third quarter for the Marshals put the game away, out-scoring the Pilots 24-10 led by Dylan Walters with eight, Reed with six, Pigg with six on two straight 3-pointers and French and Morgan with two each.

Fulton County found their touch in the final quarter out-scoring the Marshals by one, cutting the Marshals lead to 11 at one point before French and Morgan combined for the final 13 points of the game for an 80-61 win.

Friday, the Lady Marshals and Marshals will play at McCracken County High School in their first test against a Region One opponent.

SCORING
Fulton Co: Major 21, Hampton 13, Holman 13, Williams 6, Jones 3, Murphy 3, Sipes 2
Marshall: Reed 28, Walters 11, Jolley 10, Morgan 9, French 8, Pigg 6, Smith 4 Thurman 4
Fulton Co: Field Goals 25/50, 3-pointers 6/13, Free Throws 5/9, Rebounds 25, Fouls 23, Turnovers 13
Marshall: Field Goals 31/69, 3-pointers 3/13, Free Throws 15/26, Rebounds 46, Fouls 15, Turnovers 9, Steals 8

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