Patriots improve to 6-1

It was three-win week for the Marshall Academy Patriots.

Coach Sam Pearson’s MA team knocked off North Delta, Columbus Christian and Greenville Christian to go to 6-1 on the season.

“I’ve been real pleased with the effort,” Pearson said. “We struggled some in the early going as far as getting in sync but the good news is we found a way to get it done.

“Different people have stepped up, and we’re coming together as a team. We’re doing a good job of responding to whatever the situation and making adjustments to gain control of the game.

“I could not be more pleased with the way we’ve started off the season.”

The MA Lady Patriots went 2-1 against the same three schools – losing to North Delta and beating Columbus Christian and Greenville Christian. They’re 6-2 on the season.

Marshall boys

Everette Jones poured in 23 points as the Patriots beat North Delta 66-48 Monday, Dec. 4, at home.

He scored seven straight points late in the first quarter to put MA on top 17-8. Then Wyle McMillen hit a three at the buzzer to make it 20-8.

E. Jones’ steal and lay-up pushed the score to 29-13 at the 5:19 mark of the second.

The lead was 36-24 at intermission.

E. Jones again provided the spark in the third as MA upped its advantage to 52-29 before winning by 18 points.

McMillen also scored in double digits with 12. Eli Pearson added nine.

The Patriots couldn’t get going until the second half against Columbus Christian Thursday at home. That’s when they exploded for a 72-39 victory.

Marshall’s lead was just three, 24-21, at halftime.

McMillen, E. Jones and Pearson hit consecutive threes in the third as the Patriots went up 37-21.

MA outscored the Rams 26-4 in the third and led 50-25 entering the fourth.

McMillen was the top gun on offense. He scored 21. E. Jones was close behind with 19 and Jeremiah Jones added 10.

The Patriots then wrapped up the successful week with a 51-38 win Friday night at Greenville Christian.

Their most productive quarter was the second, when they outscored the Saints 20-9 and took a 31-16 lead at the halfway point.

E. Jones was the top point-producer with 22. Pearson was next with 11.

Marshall girls

The Lady Patriots dug themselves an early hole versus North Delta and couldn’t get all the way out. They fell 48-42.

MA was down 17-6 after one quarter and 28-18 at the half.

They cut the deficit to 29-24 three minutes into the third when Erin Lomenick hit a shot from the corner.

However, the Lady Green Wave was up 37-29 at the end of the third.

In the fourth, MA got as close as three (37-34) after free throws from Julia Nicholson.

But North Delta hit the shots it needed down the stretch to win by six.

Nicholson poured in a game-high 26 points for the Lady Patriots.

The Marshall girls bounced back Thursday night for a 41-37 win over Columbus Christian.

The long-range shot provided the momentum early. Jessica Deming started the game with a three. A few minutes later Alexis McGreger nailed a pair of threes, and then Kaylan Parks hit a three. MA was on top 14-7 after the first period.

The advantage was 20-14 at halftime.

Parks’ drive to the hoop gave MA a 28-18 lead going to the final quarter.

North Delta pulled to within three with 4:39 left in the contest.

McGreger hit a huge three at the 4:24 mark to make it 33-27, and Nicholson’s jump shot with 48 seconds to go kept the lead at six, 41-35. The Lady Pats hung on to win by four.

McGreger was the leading scorer with 11. Deming and Parks added nine each.

The Lady Patriots made the long trip to Greenville Christian Friday night and left the Delta with a 58-49 victory.

They were in control the bulk of the way. The lead was 29-15 at the half. It grew to 44-25 at the end of the third when McGreger hit a three.

MA was up by as many as 20 in the fourth before the Lady Saints staged a late rally. The home team got to within six, but Deming’s steal and lay-up stretched it back to 10 with 1:04 left. Parks nailed a couple of free throws in the closing seconds to provide the nine-point margin.

McGreger led the offense with 16 points, including four threes. Nicholson had 13 and Parks 10.

The Lady Patriots (6-2) and Patriots (6-1) will host Oak Hill Academy Friday to start District 1-AA competition. The girls will play in the South Pontotoc Shootout Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 18-19, versus 6A public school Columbus and 3A public school Aberdeen. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.