DRAFFENVILLE – Ballard Memorial was first to get on the board nearly two minutes into the game in the Lady Marshals season opener at home against the Lady Bombers. Paige Henson hit two free throws at 5:18 in the first quarter to put the Lady Marshals on the board, as they went on to lead 14-6 at the end of the quarter behind six points from Hannah Langhi after entering the game off the bench.
Ballard out-scored the Lady Marshals in the second quarter to trail by just one at halftime, 22-21, spreading their scoring out among Erin Young, MacKenzie Blackford and Jayde Newton.
Ballard opened the second half with a basket by Denjaja Robinson, then went up by four points on a three-pointer from Robinson, to take the lead for the first time since they led 4-2 in the first quarter. A basket by Langhi tied the game at 2:30 in the quarter followed up by two straight baskets from Tera Colson and a final bucket by Henson to put the Lady Marshals up 34-26.
Henson scored to open the fourth quarter followed by a three from Miyah Davis before Ballard’s Blackford scored to end the Lady Marshals 17-0 run. Langhi scored seven of her 20 points in the final quarter, Henson added five on their way to a 51-38 victory.
The Lady Marshals will open the 2016 Hoopfest Thursday against Massac County, IL at 4:00.
SCORING
Massac: Blackford 14, Shelley 8, Newton 6, Robinson 5, Young 3, Buchanon 2
Marshall: Langhi 20, Davis 11, Henson 9, Powell 6, Colson 5
Massac: Field Goals 15/40, 3-pointers 4/9, Free Throws 4/9, Total Rebounds 30 (Buchanon 11), Fouls 13, Assists 4, Turnovers 18
Marshall: Field Goals 19/49, 3-pointers 3/8, Free Throws 10/20, Total Rebounds 33 (Langhi 11), Fouls 11, Assists 7, Turnovers 7, Steals 13
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Massac | 6 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 38 |
| Marshall | 14 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 51 |
