Photo provided
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL – After Tuesday’s loss to Independence, TN, Marshals Head Coach Gus Gillespie was happy with Wednesday’s game against Bartram Trail, FL and seeing his team fight through some adversity in their 60-58 overtime win in the Marlin Christmas Classic.
Down 6-0 early in the game, the Marshals fought back to lead 9-8 behind seven points from D.J. Pigg who had a great game for the Marshals with 29 points. A dunk by Bartram Trail’s Dakota Green put them back on top 10-9 and a 3-pointer by Bryce Comernisky gave them a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Marshals out-scored Bartram Trail 8-4 in a low-scoring second quarter to tie the game at 17-17 at the halftime break, led by Matthew French with all seven of his points coming in the second quarter.
The second tie of the game came in the third quarter at 29-29 before a free throw by Skyler Smith put the Marshals back on top by one. A Brady Morgan three gave the Marshals a four point lead late in the quarter that was cut to two with a shot at the buzzer by Bartram Trail.
The two teams were tied up again at 42 a piece mid-way through the fourth quarter on free throws by Pigg. Pigg and Comernisky exchanged three’s to tie the game again at 47. Up by one, Dylan Walters with his first field goal of the game, put the Marshals up 50-47.
Bartram Trail’s Chris Bowker was fouled after his basket, making the free throw to tie the game at 50-50 with the Marshals going for a final shot that was no good but rebounded by Smith for the put-back and a two point lead. With just one second to go, Morgan was called for a foul going for a loose ball against Parker Webb. Webb hit both at the free throw line to tie the game at 52 and send it into overtime.
Bartram Trail struck first in the 4:00 overtime and held a two point lead for two minutes until a three by Pigg put the Marshals up by one. With a minute to go, Green scored to give Bartram Trail back the lead in a back and forth battle between Pigg who scored next for a one point Marshall lead, Green again to put Bartram back up by one then the dagger three by Pigg with 16 seconds left for a 60-58 lead.
Walters was fouled with 2.4 seconds to go, missed both at the line but the Marshals held on for the win.
The Marshals will play in the Consolation Championship game against Madisonville on Thursday at 1:15.
SCORING
Bartram: Field Goals 21/50, 3-pointers 4/20, Free Throws 12/17, Rebounds 29, Fouls 23, Turnovers 11
Marshall: Field Goals 17/41, 3-pointers 7/18, Free Throws 19/27, Rebounds 32, Fouls 16, Turnovers 10
Bartram: P Webb 13, H Webb 13, Comernisky 13, Green 9, Bowker 5, Hutchinson 3, Whyard 2
Marshall: Pigg 29, Morgan 8, French 7, Reed 6, Smith 5, Walters 5
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final | |
| Bartram | 13 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 6 | 58 |
| Marshall | 9 | 8 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 60 |