A great effort came up short for the Marshals Friday in their home loss to Graves County, breaks just not falling their way in this and many of their closely contested games this season against really good teams.
The Marshals were clicking right out of the gate, taking a 20-10 lead over the Eagles in the first quarter that began on a 3-pointer by Tyler Powell, two from Bryce Flatt, another three by Jay Nimmo and four more points from Tyler Stokes and Powell to lead 12-3. The Eagles only basket to that point coming on a 3-pointer by Seth Thomas. Flatt, Powell and Nimmo combined for the next eight points and a 13 point lead, cut to 10 before the buzzer on a three from Jordyn Naranjo.
Graves County slowly trimmed away at the Marshals 10-point lead in the second quarter, leading off with a 3-pointer by Mathis who scored seven of the Eagles 16 second quarter points. They held the Marshals to nine in the second, spread between Nimmo, Stokes, Powell and a three from Austin Riley near the end of the quarter to maintain a six-point lead before the final shot of the half for the Eagles came on a three by Tae Shannon to cut the Marshals lead to 29-26.
Thomas opened the second half with two straight buckets for the Eagles to give them their first lead of the game at 30-29. Stokes put the Marshals back up by one followed by another lead change on a three by Thomas. Mathis dropped in another three for a five-point lead, cut back to two on a three from Austin Riley. Two straight baskets by Powell put the Marshals back up by two points followed by another tie and lead swing back to the Eagles. Nimmo and Stokes finished out the third quarter with threes to keep the Marshals up 44-42.
Powell added to the string of threes to open the fourth quarter to put the Marshals up by five. That was followed by an 8-2 run by the Eagles to take a 50-49 lead and the Marshals would never get it back, staying within one to three points until the final minute, when forced to foul, sent the Eagles to the line where they made three of four. Austin Riley was fouled by Mathis in the final seconds, hitting both at the line, in the Marshals four-point loss.
Powell led all scorers with 22 points, Naranjo led the Eagles with 17. Both teams were nearly perfect from the free throw line, the Eagles 13/14 and the Marshals 9/10.
The Marshals will face another tough Region I opponent tonight (Feb. 2) when they host McCracken County (21-3). The Marshals held them to one of their lowest point totals of the season on Dec. 11 in a 45-36 loss.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | Final | |
| Graves | 10 | 26 | 42 | 61 |
| Marshall | 20 | 29 | 44 | 57 |
Graves: Naranjo 17, Mathis 12, Thomas 12, Shannon 10, Jones 6, Jackson 2, Savage 2
Marshall: Powell 22, Stokes 13, A. Riley 8, Nimmo 8, Flatt 6
Graves: TFG 21/44, 3PT 6/20, FT 13/14, REB 23, PF 14
Marshall: TFG 20/43, 3PT 8/17, FT 9/10, REB 21, PF 15