The first annual Marshall County Holiday Classic drew to a close on Friday night as the hosting Marshals took on the McCracken County Mustangs. In an intense, back-and-forth contest, the Mustangs avenged their loss to Marshall earlier in the season, as they outdueled the Marshals to take home a 57-51 victory, capping off a 3-0 run in the tournament.
“We struggled in the second quarter, but down the stretch, we got some big buckets, and I thought our guys played tough down the stretch...” said McCracken County coach Dustin Roberts after the game. “We got some big stops, some big rebounds, and executed offensively when they started bringing pressure...We’ve got a young team; you’re watching them grow up before your eyes; every time we step out there, we get a little bit better at this and a little bit better at that”.
Leading all scorers on the evening was McCracken County sophomore Jackson Klope, who finished with 20 points in the game. Senior Connor Miller was also instrumental in the Mustang’s win, contributing 18 points of his own. Freshman Jay Martin knocked down a trio of threes in clutch moments across the game, making up all of his nine points.
Marshall County senior Logan Parker and junior Alex Staples were at the forefront of the offense for the Marshals, finishing with 12-points apiece. Freshman Matthew Langhi put up nine points in the afternoon, which included seven unanswered points in the second quarter.
Marshall County opened up the scoring, with Parker giving the Marshals the early lead. The Mustangs promptly responded with five points of their own to take their first lead of the night, with a three extending their lead to 8-3. Trailing by eight with three minutes to play in the opening frame, Staples managed to make up some ground for the Marshals, putting up three late points to cut the Mustang lead to 13-8 heading into the second quarter.
Building on the late momentum created by Staples, Marshall County junior Kyzer Phillips buried a 3-pointer mere seconds into the quarter. The following minutes of the game were dominated by Langhi, whose hot hand put away seven straight points for the Marshals, building an 18-13 lead. McCracken County answered with three threes, Martin and Miller, cutting the lead back down to just a single point.
As the Marshals rebuilt their five-point advantage, McCracken County’s Jace Dawson sank a three late before Parker stormed back up the other end to beat the buzzer with a layup for the Marshals, who took a 28-24 lead into the break.
The intensity of the first half was immediately back on display as the third kicked off, with Miller hitting from range to put the Mustangs back within one. As the teams traded baskets in the opening minutes, a quick-fire pair of field goals from Miller and Klope put the Mustangs back on top. Staples retook the lead for Marshall before Klope converted a three-point play from the line to take the lead right back.
The lead swayed back and forth for the majority of the third before another set of back-to-back threes out of Miller and Martin gave the Mustangs a four-point advantage with seconds to play. However, the Marshals again had the final points of the quarter, as junior Cash Henson struck from beyond the arch to cut the lead back down to one, as the Mustangs clung to a 43-42 lead.
Coming into the crucial fourth quarter, the Marshals carried momentum as Langhi grabbed his rebound, finishing on the layup to retake the lead. Taking over the offense early for McCracken County was Klope, who scored six straight for the Mustangs as they traded the lead with the Marshals in the opening minutes. Tied at 49, Miller broke the deadlock before Klope and senior Grayson Parish each hit a single free throw to make it a two-possession game.
Marshall tried to claw their way back in late, but the fouls built up, and a late rebound from Klope off a desperation three-point attempt all but put the game to bed for the Mustangs. Another two points from the foul line iced the game for McCracken as time expired, seeing the Mustangs finish the Holiday Classic a perfect 3-0, winning by a final of 57-51.
Looking ahead for the Mustangs, they head to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to partake in the Poplar Bluffs Basketball Showdown, with their first matchup coming against Vilonia, Arkansas, next Thursday.
The Marshals resume play next Wednesday as they take on Green County in the Holiday Classic at Madison Central.
MCCRACKEN COUNTY 57, MARSHALL
COUNTY 51
MCHS 13 11 19 10 — 57
MCHS 8 20 14 9 — 51