The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame last year established the “Glory Road” Heritage Games that recognize and honor the gymnasiums across the state that have historical significance in the cultural phenomenon of Kentucky high school basketball.
Last season, the 1948 State Champion Brewers Redmen from Marshall County hosted the 1952 State Champion Cuba Cubs from Graves County in the first “Glory Road” Heritage game. It was the Cubs turn to host the Redmen on Friday at the Eagles Nest with former team members, cheerleaders and family members of the Cuba team in attendance.
Two small Western Kentucky schools that left a legacy that will always remain near and dear in the hearts of Marshall County and Graves County fans alike.
The Brewers Redmen remain to this day the only undefeated state champion with their 36-0 run to the championship after defeating Maysville 55-48 in the title game. The Cuba Cubs won the state title over Louisville Manual 58-52 and finished that season with a record of 40-4.
Cuba won the Heritage Game last season at Reed Conder Gymnasium but Brewers returned the favor by taking the win on Friday at the Eagles Nest. Making the 1948 Redmen proud, the Marshals remain unbeaten with a record of 22-0.
Trailing early after the opening tip, the Marshals tied the game at 9-9 on a 3-pointer by Kyzer Phillips and took the lead on a three by Alex Staples but they would be all square again at 15 to end the quarter. The Eagles getting eight points from leading scorer Braden Waller.
Matthew Langhi, who finished the night with 32 points, put the Marshals up 17-15 to start the second quarter. Raygon Mathis went the length of the floor to tie it up again for the Eagles.
A perfectly timed slam dunk by Langhi put the Marshals back on top where they remained the rest of the game. Langhi, from the top of the key, pushed the Marshals lead to 10 and they held the 10-point lead at 34-24 heading into halftime, Tommy Robertson adding the exclamation on the half with an and-1 play.
Outscoring the Eagles by one in the third quarter, the Marshals took a 43-32 lead into the final eight minutes.
The fourth quarter proved to be the best offensively for both teams, each putting 20 points on the board. Thirteen of the Eagles’ points came from Waller who drew them to within six at 58-52 with 1:32 remaining.
Ryan Stokes and Langhi were sent to the line in the closing minute, hitting 5-of-6 to finish out the 63-52 win.
Langhi’s 32-point night led the Marshals while Waller put up 27 to lead the Eagles. The Marshals were 9-of-12 at the free throw line and had six 3-pointers led by Langhi with two. The Eagles made four trips to the line and converted on one and finished with three 3-pointers.
Marshall County 15 34 43 63
Graves County 15 24 32 52
Marshall County (22-0): Matthew Langhi 32, Ryan Stokes 8, Kyzer Phillips 7, Tommy Robertson 6, Neyland Jezik 5, Alex Staples 5
Graves County (11-8): Braden Waller 27, Ty Cavette 11, Raygon Mathis 9, Darrell Hughes 3, Kase Tubbs 2
Marshals vs. Graves County
