In their first semi-final appearance in the Region 1 Tournament in five years, the Marshals fell to a veteran defending Region 1 champion Graves County team Monday 53-48. Just a basket or two away most the game, the Marshals only lead of the game came at the start of the second half. The Eagles largest lead of 10 points came in the fourth quarter but the Marshals kept battling to close it to two points with under three minutes to go but free throws and shots that just wouldn’t fall led Graves County to their second straight championship game appearance.
In post-game comments, Head Coach Terry Birdsong thought his team had a tough time shooting the ball and needed to react quicker in certain situations, something he said they will be working on in the off-season.
“I’m proud of our guys”, Birdsong said, “I thought they represented our school well. Proud of my coaches. I thought as the season wound down a lot of people just counted us out but we hung in there.”
The Marshals were within a basket of the Eagles throughout the first quarter and pulled to within one point following a basket by Aaron Reed, drawing the foul and making the free throw before Jacob Savage scored for Graves County for a 12-9 first quarter lead. The trend continued in the second quarter with the Marshals struggling to gain a lead, coming within one point a couple of times before the final basket of the half by Skyler Smith sent the Marshals to the locker room down 21-20.
Tyler Powell gave the Marshals their first lead of the game to open the second half followed by a basket by Tyler Stokes to lead 24-21 before the Eagles took the lead back on baskets by Ryan Mathis and Savage. Smith’s second 3-pointer of the game cut the lead back to one point and following a free throw by the Eagles, the game was tied at 31 on a basket by Reed. A basket by Brenden Young and free throw from Jordyn Naranjo put Graves County up 34-31 heading into the final quarter.
The Eagles built their largest lead of the game at 44-34 following a 3-pointer by Tae Shannon but that was followed a 6-0 run by the Marshals that cut it back to a four point lead. Graves County began to slow the game down with three minutes remaining, the clock running down to the minute mark, forcing the Marshals to foul. With 26.1 left on the clock, a put back by Stokes missed but drawing the foul, hit both at the line to close to within five points. Graves County left the door slightly open in the closing seconds, hitting two of six attempts at the free throw line, but it was enough to hold on to a five-point win.
“Our guys, unfortunately, had to learn a lot about life this year…it can change in an instant”, Birdsong said. He went on to say that they tried to play a tough schedule but missing a week for snow then the shooting tragedy saw the team going 19 days with just two games, finishing out the regular season with six games in eight days.
The Marshals were led by four players in double figures, Stokes with 12, Powell 11 and 10 each by Smith and Reed. Graves County’s leading scorers were Naranjo with 17, 12 from Savage and nine by Mathis.
Five seniors played their final game in the orange and blue…Reed, Smith, Matt French, Lucas Nichols and Brady Morgan. The Marshals will return an experienced group next season with sophomores Powell, Stokes, Austin Riley and Bryce Flatt and freshman Jay Nimmo. Added to their experience, Graves County will return most of their play makers in the games leading scorers in Mathis, Savage, and Naranjo…all juniors.
Graves County (26-8) will face McCracken County (27-6) in tonight’s Region 1 title game at 7:00.
Marshall County finishes the 2017-2018 season at 19-12.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| Marshall | 9 | 20 | 31 | 48 |
| Graves | 12 | 21 | 34 | 53 |
SCORING
Marshall: Stokes 12, Powell 11, Smith 10, Reed 10, Nimmo 3, Riley 2
Graves: Naranjo 17, Savage 12, Mathis 9, Shannon 8, Young 7
Marshall: FG 18/43, 3 PT 3/14, FT 9/14, Reb 28, Asst 9, Fouls 17, TO 7
Graves: FG 17/40, 3 PT 5/13, FT 14/24, Reb 31. Asst 12. Fouls 16, TO 13
