Post Photo by Dennis Holley Jamahl Gentry finishes a drive to the basket with a layup. He finished with 19 points.
By DENNIS HOLLEY
Sports Writer
LEWISBURG — In a battle of Tigers between Murfreesboro Central Magnet (13-11, 3-4) and Marshall County, (14-8, 4-3), the two teams battled it out on Steely court at Dottie Kelso Memorial Gymnasium Friday night in a District 8-3A shootout.
The young charges of Coach Lavon King playing fast and furious for the entire game turned back the Tigers of Central Magnet in a thrilling 66-57 victory in front of a packed house on basketball homecoming night.
Marshall County was led in scoring by Jabrae Howard and Jamahl Gentry, each scoring 19 points, while Aja Jones chipped in 14.
Marshall County, as a rule, start fast and that was the case Friday night as Howard buried a 3-pointer from deep in the corner on the left side to open the game.
After a Central Magnet basket, Jones scored on a breakaway lay-up and another basket by Howard, with an assist from Marcus O’Neal to bump he Marshall County lead to 7-2 early.
Mason Brown of Central Magnet sank a basket but O’Neal answered drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key and the home Tigers led 10-4.
Gentry sank two free-throws and then on a quick drive to the basket laid the ball in to increase the Marshall County lead to 14-4 with 4:27 left in the first quarter.
Good free-throw shooting was evident as the Marshall County Tigers sank four, with Jones and Howard sharing the honor.
Howard topped the frame with a snazzy reverse lay-up and the hosts led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.
Markel Harris drained a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and Gentry, showing those quick hands, stole the ball, outraced everyone, and laid the ball in to put Marshall County up by 10 points.
Central Magnet fought back but as would be the case throughout the game, the home Tigers responded each time with Xavier Mosley scoring on a lay-up, Gentry again breaking free for a lay-up and Jones getting in on the act with his lay-up as the home Tigers led, 30-19.
Tyler Thompson ended the half from deep in the corner on the right side, buried a 3-pointer and Marshall County led 33-23.
The third quarter was a repeat of the second quarter as Central Magnet would make a run and the Marshall County Tigers answered, led by the eight points by Jones and at the end of the third quarter to keep the lead at 47-40.
The fourth quarter saw action intensify as Central Magnet rallied back and with 5:28 left in the game Central Magnet’s Owen Zubrus drained a 3-pointer to cut the Marshall County lead to six points, 49-43.
Garrett Florida sank a basket to cut the lead to 49-45 with 5:09 left to play but the Marshall County Tigers again responded with Howard working his magic under the basket and Gentry sinking a 3-pointer and a two pointer and with 2:31 left in the game, the hosts led 56-48.
Central Magnet rallied again, but time was short and Howard, Mosley, and Gentry asserted themselves and the Marshall County Tigers, when the buzzer sounded to end the game, had a 66-57 victory and second place in the district.
Coach King said after the game, responding to the six games in 10 days saying, “It shows our depth and now we control our own destiny.”
The Tigers traveled to Lawrence County on Tuesday night after trimming the Wildcats 63-57 on Thursday night, handing Lawrence County their first district loss, then finish the season against District 8 foe Franklin County next Friday night.
Central Magnet 14 9 17 18 — 57
Marshal Co. 19 14 14 19 — 66
Central Magnet: Mason Brown 15, Will Becker 14, Jake Maddox 8, Owen Zubkus 7, Garrett Florida 7, Stef Scarvell 6.
Marshall Co.: Jabrae Howard 19, Jamahl Gentry 19, A J Jones 14, Xavier Mosley 5. Marcus O’Neal 3, Tyler Thompson 3, Markel Harris 3.
3-Point Goals Marshall Co. (5): O’Neal, Thompson, Harris, Howard, Gentry; Marshall Co. (6): Becker 3, Brown, Zubkus, Scarvell.
Halftime Score: Marshall Co. 33, Central Magnet 23.
