Marshall boys improve to 5-1

Three wins and no losses equals a good week.

Coach Jeremy Ervin’s Marshall Academy boys beat Columbus Christian, North Delta and Greenville Christian over a five-day span to go to 5-1 on the season.

The Patriots began the week with a 66-29 rout of Columbus Christian on the road.

“I was very happy with the boys’ performance,” Ervin said. ‘For the first time since our win over Pillow, I think we played a complete game the way this team is capable of.”

Everette Jones powered the offense with 17 points. Jeremiah Jones added nine.

On Friday night at home, it took a little while for the Patriots to start clicking on all cylinders but they pulled away in the second half for a 76-52 win over North Delta.

A couple of buckets by J. Jones, one of those a three, resulted in a 19-13 lead for Marshall at the end of the first quarter.

The lead reached double digits at the 4:50 mark of the second when Phillip Parks scored, was fouled and added the free throw. It was 26-16.

E. Jones closed the first half with a putback and the margin was 39-23.

MA’s full-court pressure paid dividends early in the third as the host team surged in front 65-35.

The Green Wave got back to within 20 but Wyle McMillen cashed in three straight buckets over a 60-second span and the Patriots went on to win by 24.

E. Jones and Parks poured in 18 points each. Sam Greer and J. Jones added 11 each.

Marshall’s winning ways continued Saturday afternoon at home as they dominated Greenville Christian 62-32.

Coach Ervin’s squad led 14-0 before the Saints got their first bucket with 3:17 to go in the first quarter.

Parks hit two shots to close the period and it was 19-6.

Zach Sorrell cashed in a couple of buckets off the fast break to make the lead 25-8 at halftime.

J. Jones opened the third with a three.

The Pats led 50-19 at the conclusion of the third and led by as many as 39 before winning by 30.

Parks led the way with 19 points, 14 of those in the first quarter. J. Jones added 16 and Sorrell 10.

“Our boys played the best game of the year Saturday,” Ervin said. “When we take our time and execute the offensive end, take what they give us instead of trying to force the issue, we’re hard to beat.

“I’m also very pleased that we’re creating turnovers with our defense and turning those mistakes into points. Execution on the defensive end is just as important – knowing who is supposed to be trapping and knowing who is supposed to rotate when our traps take place.”

MA girls

The Lady Patriots, missing a couple of starters, dropped a 59-37 decision to Columbus Christian.

“We just turned the ball over way too much,” Ervin said. “I was very happy with the way our freshmen, along with Erin Burleson (a junior who recently joined the team), played for us.

“Having a couple of injuries in the starting lineup has forced us to go deeper in the roster, which will be beneficial in the long run.”

Hallie Turner scored 11.

The Class AA Marshall girls stayed close for a quarter against North Delta Friday night but then it was all Lady Green Wave, one of the top teams in the state in Class AAA. The Lady Patriots fell 61-30.

Kaylan Parks, who scored 20 of her team’s points, had six in the opening quarter. MA was down 16-8.

The Lady Patriots, struggling against North Delta’s fullcourt pressure, fell behind 35-14 at intermission and 51-23 at the end of the third.

Ally Alford had a game-high 26 for the Lady Green Wave.

The MA girls were within single digits at the half but couldn’t stay close and dropped a 58-35 decision to Greenville Christian Saturday.

Peyton Stephenson got the Lady Patriots on the board at the 5:02 mark of the first, and they trailed 6-2. Parks closed the quarter with a successful drive to the hoop and MA was down 18-12.

Both teams went cold to start the second. Marshall trailed by as many as 10 and was down 28-19 at the break.

The Lady Patriots went scoreless for almost five minutes to start the third and was behind 39-21.

But they found some energy to close the third and start the fourth. Erin Lomenick drilled a pair of threes. And when Parks scored with 6:00 to go in the game, MA was within 12 (47-35).

But the Lady Saints pulled away again to win by 23.

Parks led the Lady Patriots with 15 points.

Williette Kingdom had 30 for Greenville Christian.

The Lady Patriots (2-5) and the Patriots (5-1) will host Columbus Christian Thursday night and travel to West Point to face Oak Hill Academy Friday night.