Thursday, December 9, 2010
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Thursday, December 9, 2010 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | Photo Gallery |
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MA takes two from Chiefs By BARRY BURLESON Marshall Academy teams earned a sweet sweep of Magnolia Heights Thursday night at home. The Lady Patriots won by 10 points and the Patriots by 19. “When we play Magnolia Heights it is always going to be a war,” coach Craig Dailey said. “They really get up for us.” Kelsey Shaw scored half of the Lady Pats’ points in a 40-30 win. The defenses dominated. Marshall was up 8-6 after one quarter and 12-11 at the half. The Lady Pats went up by five in the third, but at the 2:45 mark they trailed 17-16. They went back in front by one at the end of the period, thanks to Kelsey Shaw’s three at the horn. It was 21-20 Magnolia Heights at the 7:19 mark of the fourth. Then Callie Clanton scored five points and Shaw eight to put MA in command at 33-24. Shaw’s 20 points included six of six from the free throw stripe in the fourth. “Kelsey has just plain been on fire,” Dailey said. “She is playing her best basketball right now. Callie and Emma (Elgin) had some key buckets.” Clanton scored nine and Elgin eight. He also praised the play of Megan Anderson and Lauralee Fant. “Their defensive and offensive play stabilized us in the fourth quarter and we were able to pull out a hard-fought rivalry matchup,” Dailey said. The Patriots were in control throughout in the nightcap. They surged ahead 5-0 and were on top 31-15 at the half en route to a 55-36 victory. “Coach Whiteside’s guys really got up in our grills and did a great job of helping on drives,” Coach Dailey said. “That was the best we have been played defensively all year. He really does a tremendous job with his kids. They defend the way we will be defended down the stretch in our league.” MA’s full-court heat forced lots of Magnolia Heights turnovers in the first half. Chase Ferrell’s bucket created by the pressure put the Pats up 11-2 with 3:41 to go in the first quarter. At the midway mark of the second, Aaron McAlexander hit a three to put the margin at 25-11. MA, exercising its depth, was up 39-26 after three quarters. Ferrell was the top MA point producer with 14. Taylor Maurey added 12. “Chase got rolling early and Taylor finished it up,” he said. “I see them slowly getting into basketball rhythm. “Aaron (McAlexander) and Joey (Omedeo) basically did the same thing – one pitching in the first half and the other in the second (each with eight points). Joey has really played some great basketball in this early season.” MA vs. Oak Hill In Coach Dailey’s words, the Marshall girls “got taken to the woodshed” Saturday night at Oak Hill. The closest the Lady Patriots got to the Lady Raiders was seven with 3:04 to go in the first quarter. They lost 55-34. “Mr. Frank Swords commented to the girls as they left the court, ‘There will be another day ladies,’” Dailey said. “That was the nail on the head. It wasn’t our day but we will get back to work.” MA (8-6 on the season) trailed 27-8 at the half.
Clanton scored more than half of the team’s points. She finished with 18. Eleven of 12 Patriots scored in the nightcap at West Point as the Marshall boys blasted the Raiders 67-34 and improved to 11-1. “That’s pretty balanced,” Dailey said about his team’s point production. He also had praise for a former assistant coach at MA who is leading the Raiders.
“Coach Middleton had Oak Hill ready and they hung for a quarter, but we turned up the defense in the second and third to put it away,” Dailey said. “He is really working hard there and will turn it eventually if they give him support. It just takes time.” Andy Burleson and McAlexander drilled back-to-back threes with under three minutes to go in the first quarter and upped MA’s lead to six. It was 16-10 at the end of the period. Burleson hit another three at the 4:14 mark of the second quarter and stretched the margin to 24-11. Brad Bennett’s putback made it 28-12 at intermission. Ferrell’s bucket on a break pushed it to 35-13 early in the third and forced an Oak Hill timeout. MA led by 30 points after three periods before winning by 33. Burleson was the team’s top scorer with nine points. Mitch Gholson followed with eight. Ferrell, Bennett and McAlexander added seven each. “Andy had a huge night,” Dailey said. “They were sagging on our drives and making us chunk it from the cheap seats, and Andy can do that better than any of us. I’m proud of his unselfish attitude. He is a tremendous asset to our program. “Chase, Brad, Aaron and Mitch all hit some big shots to put Oak Hill away.” Schedule MA goes to Hickory Flat Friday and then visit Kirk Academy in Grenada the next Friday, Dec. 17. |
      
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