Patriots improve to 8-1


Thursday, December 6, 2007
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Patriots improve to 8-1

By BARRY BURLESON
Editor


All-stars Three Marshall Academy senior Patriots will compete in the Mississippi Private School Association All-Star Football Game this Friday night, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at Mississippi College in Clinton. From left are Brent Adams, Wesley Harris and Jake Paylor. They will be joined by their coach, Keith Wicker, who will serve as an assistant for the North. Head coach for the North is Rodney Martin of Bayou Academy. Other assistants are Joey Hawkins of Jackson Academy and Todd Lott of Washington School. The South coaching staff includes Jerry Almond of Glenbrook School as head coach and assistants Bill Hurst of Centreville Academy, Charlie Newlon of Parklane Academy and Trey Bayliss of East Rankin Academy. Players were scheduled to report on Tuesday of this week. Pre-game ceremonies begin at 5:45 p.m. on Friday.

The Marshall Academy varsity boys basketball team beat Magnolia Heights, West Memphis and Marvell last week to improve to 8-1 on the season.

Defense was the key on Tuesday night, Nov. 27, when the Patriots hosted Magnolia Heights and won 56-38.

MA led 27-24 at the half and then turned up the pressure in the second half.

“The boys really clamped down defensively in the second half,” Dailey said. “The Chiefs are a lot better team than we made them look in that second half.”

Nick Tate “had an extremely good night,” according to his coach, and scored 20 points. Gene Alexin, Caleb Byrd and Jake Omedeo “finished out a balanced offensive night,” Dailey said, by scoring 10 points each.

Tate’s 27-point scoring show lifted MA to a 55-51 home win over West Memphis Christian (Ark.) Thursday night.

“He put us on his shoulders at times offensively,” Dailey said.

The coach also complimented the defense of Jake Omedeo, Chad Mitchell and Jordan Brock.

“Jake had a huge defensive night versus West Memphis’ recent addition, a 6’5” post player,” Dailey said. “We hadn’t seen him until game time. Chad and Jordan were exceptional on their point guard.”

Byrd and Alexin added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for Marshall, which trailed 29-24 at halftime.

“Gene did an excellent job versus their traps, and Caleb hit some huge baskets,” he said. “This was a big win versus a very solid opponent.”

The Patriots finished the week Saturday by dominating Marvell, Ark., 58-34 on the road.

Alexin poured in a team-best 21 points. Byrd and Omedeo scored 16 and 11, respectively.

“Gene had a big night, splitting their defense,” Dailey said. “Caleb continues to play at a high level offensively, and Jake was dominant at times in the paint.

“I want to thank my junior high boys who move to just junior high now that the football playoffs are over. They set a very high bar for my football boys. This shows how strong our program really is.”

Lady Patriots

The Marshall Academy girls dropped two of three last week and saw their record go to 11-5.

Dailey said his Lady Patriots “just got whipped” November 27 by Magnolia Heights. The final score was 58-43.

Jenna Harris was the thorn in MA’s side. She scored 24.

“We just couldn’t do much with her,” he said. “She lit us up.”

Traci Rodgers scored 21 for the Lady Patriots.

“We just have to go back to work and get better,” Dailey said.

Thursday night, the MA girls turned in a “great team defensive effort,” according to their coach, and knocked off West Memphis 39-37.

“We really stifled Lindsey Root (West Memphis’ star player),” Dailey said. “Hannah (Cook) defended her extremely well.”

Root scored just 14 points.

Rodgers and Emily Burk provided the offensive spark for the Lady Patriots. They scored 19 and 14, respectively.

“Traci and Emily played the way they must play for us to make a run,” Coach Dailey said. “This was a good solid win versus a good team.”

The Lady Patriots lost 46-28 Saturday evening at Marvell. They trailed 19-13 at the half but were outscored 27-15 in the second half.

Rodgers gunned in 21 points for MA.

“Traci had a tremendous offensive game versus their defense,” Dailey said.

He said he was also proud of the efforts of varsity players Mandy Bolden and Burk in the game.

“The junior high girls played really hard in support,” Dailey said. “This group has really sold out for me the way you have to to be successful.”

Schedule

Marshall Academy teams were scheduled to visit Lee (Ark.) on Tuesday of this week. They host Carroll Academy Thursday night. Next Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Lady Patriots and Patriots host Kirk Academy. Friday, Dec. 14, they visit Lee (Clarksdale).

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