Dontaie Allen, who has committed to play for the University of Kentucky, scored 52 and 53 points in his last two games for Pendleton County before their Hoopfest game against Marshall County. A tall order for the Marshals to contain the prolific scorer but they did, and very well in the first half holding Allen to 11 points.
After trailing 7-2 in the first quarter, the Marshals tied the game at seven on a free throw by Bryce Flatt and four points from Tyler Stokes. Matthew Wooten gave the Marshals their first lead, tied again on free throws by Allen with a final free throw of the quarter from Dawson Smothers to put Marshall County up by one.
Eight second quarter points by Tyler Powell and five from Wooten led the Marshals into halftime leading 26-18.
Allen opened the second half for the Wildcats with a three that was answered by Jay Nimmo. Flatt picked up his third foul of the game with his tight defensive coverage of Allen, who then missed both free throws. Allen was called for his third foul followed immediately by his fourth in a double-foul call with Wooten, sending him to the bench for the rest of the third quarter.
The Marshals scored just two points from Wooten with Allen on the bench but finished out the quarter with a 33-27 lead. Back on the floor in the fourth quarter, Allen scored to cut the Marshals lead to four points, Brett Booth cut it to two points and a 3-pointer by Cody Sullivan put Pendleton County back on top 34-33, their first lead since the first quarter.
With a four point lead, Allen’s slam dunk gave the Wildcats a 41-35 lead, one they stretched out to eight points before a three from Stokes cut it back to five. Free throws by Allen with 10.4 seconds to go put them up by seven and he fouled out with 4.7 remaining in their 50-45 win.
Allen led with 23 points, earning Most Valuable Player. The Marshals were led by Powell with 16 points, Wooten with 12 and Stokes with seven points and 17 rebounds.
Marshall County is 1-2, opening the season Nov. 27 at Muhlenberg County with a 53-48 loss. Leading scorers against Muhlenberg were Powell and Stokes with 12 and Flatt with nine. The Marshals next game is Tuesday at Carlisle County.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| Marshall | 11 | 26 | 33 | 45 |
| Pendleton | 10 | 18 | 27 | 50 |
SCORING
Marshall: Powell 16, Wooten 12, Stokes 7, Nimmo 3, Flatt 3, Riley 2, Smothers 2
Pendleton: Allen 25, Sullivan 13, Booth 6, Monroe 5, Thomas 1
Marshall: 2FG 13/35, 3 PT 4/21, FT 7/11, REB 34, AST 6, TO 9, PF 15
Pendleton: 2FG 12/27, 3 PT 6/24, FT 8/15, REB 36, AST 3, TO 8, PF 15
