MURRAY – Thursday’s 4th District Championship game against Murray ended in a controversial call, much the same way their overtime loss to Murray ended on February 9th, leaving the Marshals and the coaching staff feeling they can’t catch a break.
In post-game comments, Head Coach Gus Gillespie felt like his team deserved to win the last two games against Murray. Not wanting to waste any time on the negatives, Gillespie spoke of his disappointment in the officiating and what he felt was a foul at the end which could have changed the final outcome.
With 51 seconds to go, down 50-49, the Marshals worked the clock down in an attempt to get the final shot of the game with Jolley taking it under the goal and what looked to be a body foul, a call that the referee’s did not make, which gave Murray the 4th District Championship.
“Our guys did their job”, Gillespie said. “They played defense, they played with heart, they executed at the end and got the ball where we wanted. I’m very proud of them.”
Six of the seven opening field goals in the game were 3-pointers, two from Murray’s Preston English and one from Duane Curtis, two from Marshall’s Matthew French and one from D.J. Pigg giving Murray an 11-9 lead. Pigg and Dawson Jolley both hit two more threes for five in the quarter to end the 1st quarter tied 16-16.
Trailing by seven in the second quarter following another three from Curtis, five points from Dylan Walters and Jolley cut Murray’s lead to 23-20 and they would go on to tie at 27-27 following a three from Skyler Smith. Jolley and Pigg scored the final four points of the quarter to give the Marshals a 31-27 halftime lead.
Murray scored five unanswered to open the second half on a 32-31 lead which the Marshals got back on a three from Smith. Tied 38-38, Pigg hit two free throws and a field goal to put the Marshals up 42-38 which Preston English cut to one ending the quarter with a three.
English hit his second straight three to start the 4th quarter that gave the lead back to Murray with five more lead changes until just over two minutes to go. One more minute off the clock and the Marshals had fouls to give, committing two before Jolley drew an offensive charge on English that gave them the ball with 57.7 seconds to go.
Murray with fouls to give, fouled the Marshals two times in the next six seconds, giving the Marshals a chance to go for the final shot of the game, which worked like clockwork with Jolley taking the shot right before the buzzer defended by Tre Hornbuckle and knocked away in a manner that Marshall coaches, players and fans felt was a foul.
Both teams move on to next week’s 1st Region Tournament at Murray State’s CFSB Center and will know who they play after the draw meeting Saturday morning.
An important to note item from the game, D.J. Pigg became Marshall County’s all-time career leader in 3-pointers, passing Kala Morton Cary with 240. He and Jolley were selected to the 4th District All-Tournament Team.
SCORING
Marshall: Pigg 12, Jolley 12, Smith 8, French 8, Reed 5, Walters 4
Murray: English 20, Hornbuckle 12, Curtis 9, Flener 9
Marshall: Field Goals 19/34, 3-pointers 7/9, Free Throws 4/5, Rebounds 15, Fouls 13, Assists 11, Turnovers 8
Murray: Field Goals 18/30, 3-pointers 7/11, Free Throws 7/13, Rebounds 15, Fouls 12, Turnovers 8
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Marshall | 16 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 49 |
| Murray | 16 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 50 |
Click on photos to view larger images.
