By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — It’s not how you start a game, but how you finish and the Marshall County Tigers learned that lesson the hard way in Friday night’s District 8-AAA semifinal matchup against Central Magnet.
The Central Magnet Tigers rallied for 33, including scoring the final 11 points as Marshall County fell, 73-61.
With just over a minute to go, Central Magnet held just a one-point lead.
But a series of personal and technical fouls were issued against Marshall County and Central Magnet cashed in.
In the final minute, Central Magnet went 9-of-10 at the free throw line to send Marshall County to the consolation game, instead of to the district championship.
Prior to the late-game drama, the Marshall County Tigers were able to impose their will on Central Magnet, but every time the hosts gained a comfortable lead, Central Magnet stormed back.
Marshall County built an 18-13 lead by the end of the first, but saw Central Magnet cut the lead to one point by halftime.
Again, Marshall County jumped out to a comfortable lead in the third with a strong showing by Marcus O’Neal and Jamahl Gentry, who combined for 11 points in the quarter.
As a team, Central Magnet shot 92% from the free throw line and made 22-of-24 attempts, contrasted to Marshall County’s 6-of-10 attempts.
Gentry led all scorers with 22 points, including six made 3-pointers, while O’Neal added 12.
Carson Wood led four Central Magnet Tigers in double figures with 16 points.

Marshall Co. 18 14 16 13 — 61
Central Magnet 13 18 9 33 — 73

Marshall Co.: Jamahl Gentry 22, Marcus O’Neal 12, Jabrae Howard 9, Jayce Harney 7, Xavier Mosley 6, Aja Jones 5.
Central Magnet: Carson Wood 16, Will Becker 15, Mason Brown 14, Jake Maddox 14, Alijah Dean 5, Owen Zubkus 5, Garrett Florida 4.
3-Point goals: Marshall Co. (6): Gentry 6; Central Magnet (9): Wood 4, Becker 2, Dean, Brown, Zubkus.
Halftime score: Marshall Co. 32, Central Magnet 31.