Following a delayed start of over a month, Kentucky’s high school basketball season officially kicked off on Monday and the Marshals took the court at Trigg County High School in their first game of the 2020-21 season.
Losing four of their five starters from last year’s Regional Tournament runner-up squad and senior Zion Harmon not dressed for Monday night’s game, the Marshals relied on the experience of seniors Brady Miller and Kaden Driver as well as junior Quinn Smith and sophomore Cole Mills – who had a huge night with 34 points – to get the season-opening win.
Trailing 4-0 early, the Marshals went on to out-score the Wildcats 20-2 to lead 20-6 at the end of the first quarter behind 13 points from Mills. Mills opened the second quarter with a three and the Marshals went on to take a 21-point lead (34-13) – their largest of the game – finishing out the first half on technical free throws taken by Mills to lead 37-21.
That first half lead was wiped out by Trigg County in the second half – the Wildcats outscoring the Marshals by 15 points – fueled by seven second half threes. They took their first lead of the game since their 4-0 start, late in the fourth quarter (59-58) on a three-pointer by freshman Jhaden Vaughn who scored 11 of his 15 points in the final frame.
A nice put-back by Quinn Smith gave the Marshals a one-point edge and the lead changed again with 41 seconds remaining on a bucket by Trigg County’s De’Von Ladd who led the Wildcats with 20 points. Smith found the net again under 30 seconds for a 62-61 lead before the Wildcats let the last few seconds tick down for a final look. That shot missed, resulting in a jump ball with the possession going to the Wildcats with one tenth of second left on the clock. The Marshals intercepted the in-bounds pass to leave Cadiz with a one-point victory.
The JV Marshals defeated Trigg County 54-38.
They will play again Tuesday at 6:30 against the Thomas Nelson Generals of the 5th Region who opened the season on Monday with a 72-69 win over Beth Haven.
SCORING
Marshall County: Mills 34, Q. Smith 10, Miller 6, Sedlock 5, Schroader 3, Driver 2, Moore 2
Trigg County: Ladd 20, Vaughn 15, Thompson 11, Adams 9, Reynolds 6
Marshall County 20 37 48 – 62
Trigg County 6 21 39 – 61
