MURRAY – It’s been over a year since the Lady Marshals won the 2020 Region 1 Championship and headed to Rupp Arena in Lexington for the Sweet Sixteen. On March 12, just before they were to take the floor against Henderson County, the tournament was postponed and then later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A year later, they are headed back to Rupp and the Sweet Sixteen after their dominating run through the Region 1 Tournament and Saturday’s 49-21 championship game win over McCracken County.
“We were going to be the favorite team”, Coach Aaron Beth said, knowing what they had coming back from last year. “We went out and we took care of business and as the season went on I could see us progressing. I think the tough schedule we played really paid off in the regional tournament.”
In their three regional tournament games, they beat Paducah Tilghman by 38 points, Graves County by 22 points and McCracken County by 28 – leaving no question that the best team will be representing Region 1 in the state tournament.
This was the 24th Region 1 title for the Marshall County girl’s program.
“We wanted it so bad and we got it, but you still never know and you gotta go play that game”, Beth said. “They deserved it. The stuff these seniors have been through the last four years…they deserved this.”
They led 9-4 at the end of the first quarter – points coming from Halle Langhi with four, Cayson Conner two and a 3-pointer by Layne Pea. Holding McCracken County to just two points in the second quarter with their smothering defense, the Lady Marshals put up 12 points – led by Presley Jezik’s three 3-pointers – to lead 21-6 at halftime.
Jada Driver’s two 3-pointers in the third quarter led the Lady Marshals but it was a balanced effort with five from Pea, four by Langhi and Conner with two to build a 38-15 lead going into the fourth. The nine points in the third from the Lady Mustangs was their largest of the game, led by freshman Claire Johnson with five.
Nearly half of the fourth quarter ticked by before either team found the net in the final frame. McCracken’s Caroline Sivills, who led the Lady Mustangs with 11 points, scored the first points before Conner’s eight point effort in the quarter led the way to the Region 1 crown.
“I’d much rather be the favorite team and have the best players and have the chance to do that but it is a whole different kind of pressure from an internal standpoint on me, but I wouldn’t trade it”, Beth said of the team’s expectations this season. “I love the competition, I love coaching them. It’s one of the best, most unique group as a team I’ve ever seen. I’ve been around teams all my life and there’s special teams, but the chemistry and the bond these girls have and how great they are as human beings makes it all that much more special.”
The Lady Marshals will play the winner of Region 15 on Thursday, Apr. 8 at 11:00 a.m. (EST) in the Sweet 16.
“Were not done”, Beth said. “We’ve shown that we can play with people around the state. We’re going to have to do some things a little better than we did over these last three games but the next week and a half is going to be fun. Practices are different when you know you’ve won the region and going to state. It just takes a huge pressure off because we were expected to do this.”
Beaming with pride when asked about his players, Beth said the combination on the floor of Langhi and Galloway keeps getting better and better. He thought Jezik had one of her best games of the year. He said Pea has played beyond expectations, she makes big shots and runs the point when Conner can’t and Driver knocked down her shots.
About the Joey Fosko Region 1 Tournament MVP Cayson Conner, Beth said, “I have huge expectations for her and she never lets me down. She steps up and does whatever I ask. I can ask her to play the post. I can ask her to guard the other team’s best player. I can ask her to guard the point guard. I can ask her to play offense in all five positions and it’s not even a question, she just does it. She’s intelligent. She’s just a true leader on the floor.”
Beth said what makes this team so special is the commitment they have to each other, “It’s very unselfish. It’s just a joy to be around. I know right now how special this group is…it will take them a little while.”
“Now were going to focus on enjoying practice until we go to Rupp. When we go to Rupp we’re going to enjoy walking in and seeing Rupp the day before. We’ll go up Wednesday, go watch some games and run out on the floor and warm up and try to do our best to play four games.”
Marshall County 9 12 17 11 – 49
McCracken County 4 2 9 6 – 21
Marshall County: Conner 12, Langhi 11, Jezik 9, Pea 8, Driver 6, Galloway 2, Lovett 1
McCracken County: Sivills 11, Johnson 7, Buchanon 1, Daye 1
Marshall County (22-2): FG 17/36, 3 Pt 7/15 (Jezik 3, Pea 2, Driver 2), FT 8/10 (Conner 4/4), REB 29 (Galloway 9, Langhi 6), AST 14 (Pea 6, Conner 3), STL 4, BLK 6 (Langhi 3, Galloway 3), TO 11, PF 13
McCracken County (15-8): FG 7/34, 3 Pt 1/5 (Johnson), FT 8/10, REB 22 (Daye 6), AST 3, STL 4, BLK 2, TO 11, PF 12
