Lady Pats knock off host team Tunica

The Marshall Academy Lady Patriots won one of two games in the Tunica Academy Holiday Classic.

MA bounced back from a hard-fought loss to a very talented Fayette Academy squad December 17 to knock off the host Lady Blue Devils the following day.

A lack of offensive production in the third quarter cost the Lady Pats versus Fayette. They produced only five points in that eight-minute span and dropped a 55-44 decision to the Lady Vikings from Somerville, Tenn.

Marshall trailed 18-10 after one quarter, 32-25 at halftime and 44-30 at the conclusion of the third.

Hallie Turner poured in 17 points for the Lady Pats. Kailyn Smith and Kamdyn Taylor followed with nine each.

The Marshall girls, playing stellar defense throughout, hit some crucial free throws in the fourth quarter for a 43-38 win over Tunica Academy.

MA fell behind 11-8 after one quarter. Taylor scored five in the second as the Lady Pats rebounded to go up 20-18 at the halfway mark.

The Lady Blue Devils then snatched a one-point advantage, 28-27, going to the final eight minutes.

In the fourth, Marshall calmly sank 13 of 17 free-throw attempts and left Tunica with the five-point victory. Turner was four for five, Evelyn Greer four for four, Taylor four for five and Jhaniya Davis one for three.

Taylor finished with 18 points. Turner contributed 14.

Marshall boys

The Patriots kept it close in the first half versus a very talented Fayette Academy in the Tunica Academy Holiday Classic before falling 67-50.

Marshall was down 15-13 following one quarter but outscored the Vikings 19-9 in the second to surge in front 3224 at halftime.

The Pats couldn’t keep the momentum in the third and fourth periods. They managed just 18 points in the second half while Fayette got hot and lit up the scoreboard with 43 points.

Walker Sanders was the top gun for MA. He scored 17, with 13 of those coming in the first half. He hit four threes in the game. Rusty Bolden followed with nine points, six of those coming in the first half.

The Lady Patriots (6-7 overall and 1-2 in District 1-4A) and Patriots (6-6 and 2-1) will host Rossville Christian Academy (Tenn.) next Tuesday, Jan. 4, in district action. They will then visit Lee Academy (Clarksdale) Friday, Jan. 7, as district competition continues.