MA second in North

The Marshall Academy Patriots came up a win short in their quest for a 3A North State championship.

Coach Craig Dailey said his team has to learn from the 55- 51 loss Saturday night to Carroll Academy and come back stronger this week.

MA moves on to the 3A State Tournament, with its first game set for Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m. in West Point.

“I know the kids are disappointed,” he said, “but they played their hearts out. We just didn’t play well enough to win – free throws, defensive letdowns and missed opportunities.”

The Patriots struggled offensively out of the starting gate. They were down 13-8 after one period. Jordan Bonds scored five of the eight.

Dee Howell scored 11 of his game-high 24 in the second quarter, but Marshall could not cut into the deficit, trailing 26-21 at intermission.

The teams played an even third, 13 apiece.

MA’s Walker Sanders hit a big three in the fourth but the Patriots could not complete the rally, falling by four.

Bonds also scored in double figures for Mar shall, with 10 points.

“They don’t give rings away for this blue trophy,” said Dailey, referring to first in the North. “It’s the next one (State) that everyone remembers.”

MA (14-8) faces Tri-County in the opening round at Oak Hill Academy. With a win, they meet either Clinton Christian or North Delta on Friday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. The tourney is slated to wrap up Saturday, Feb. 27.

MA-Oak Hill

The Patriots nailed down a 51-41 win over Oak Hill from the free-throw stripe Friday night in the semi-finals.

They hit seven of 10 tries in the fourth quarter. Sanders was five of six.

The Patriots led 12-11 after the first quarter and 24-20 at the half.

They fell behind briefly, 25- 24, in the third but bounced back strongly to take the 10- point victory.

Howell, who hit a pair of first-quarter threes, finished with 15 points. Sanders had 12 and Bonds 12. Rusty Bolden contributed nine.

MA-Central Holmes

In round one of North State at Kirk in Grenada, MA saw a big early lead evaporate versus Central Holmes but then pulled away again late, winning 47-31.

Bonds hit a couple of threes in the first three minutes, and the Patriots were on top 10-4.

It was 19-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

The Trojans got to within 10, and then Sanders scored to make it 30-18 at the half.

Marshall had a lackluster third period. Central Holmes cut it to five twice, the latest at the 5:40 mark. Bolden and Howell hit key shots to swing the momentum back in the Patriots’ favor.

MA was up 41-29 at the end of the third.

With the double-digit lead, Coach Dailey slowed the pace in the fourth and Marshall won by 16.

Bonds led the way with 16 points, and Sanders was close behind with 14.