The Marshals traveled to Gatlinburg, TN for the Smokey Mountain Holiday Classic Dec. 28-30. Teams from seven states were represented at the tournament including Kentucky, Tennessee, Virgina, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia and Maryland.
Playing in the Red Bracket, the Marshals dropped their opening game of the tournament to a talented Spain Park, AL team 60-38. They were 1-of-15 from 3-point range and 17-of-20 at the free throw line. Logan Parker and Alex Staples led in scoring with seven points each. Chase Binkley had six points and was 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
The loss sent them into the consolation bracket where they beat Bellbrook, OH 75-68 to advance to the consolation championship game. The game was tied up at 39 at halftime and the Marshals took a four-point lead at 59-54 at the end of the third quarter. They out-scored Bellbrook by two points in the fourth for the seven-point win.
Wade Moore led the Marshals with 21 points followed by Parker with 17 and 13 from Staples. They hit eight 3-pointers led by Trey Wall with three and Staples with two. Parker recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds.
Friday, they beat South River, MD 49-48 with a thrilling buzzer-beater 3-point shot made by Hunter Wallace to win the consolation bracket. At the end of the first quarter, the Marshals trailed 19-16 and after a five-point halftime lead, trailed by five points at the end of the third quarter before out-scoring South River 12-8 in the fourth.
Staples led in scoring with 11 points followed by 10 from Wallace. They were 10-of-15 at the free throw line. Wallace and Parker had 10 rebounds each.
The Marshals are 11-3 heading into the second half of the season. Up next on the schedule is a game at Hopkins County-Central (7-5) on January 6.
Spain Park, AL 60, Marshall County 38
Marshals: Logan Parker 7, Alex Staples 7, Chase Binkley 6, Wade Moore 5, Trey Wall 5, Tommy Robertson 4, Hunter Wallace 2, Hunter Anderson 2
Marshall County 75, Bellbrook, OH 68
Marshals: Wade Moore 21, Logan Parker 17, Alex Staples 13, Trey Wall 9, Jack Thompson 5, Hunter Anderson 3, Logan Davis 3, Hunter Wallace 3, Tommy Robertson 1
Marshall County 49, South River, MD 48
Marshals: Alex Staples 11, Hunter Wallace 10, Wade Moore 9, Tommy Robertson 8, Trey Wall 5, Logan Parker 4, Hunter Anderson 2