Post Photo by Chris Siers Jamahl Gentry presses the ball across half-court after coming up with a steal against Franklin County. He finished with a game-high 21 points.
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
LEWISBURG — A missed free throw and a crushing foul was ultimately the difference for Marshall County as the Tigers took a tough one on the chin and fell to visiting Franklin County, 60-59, on Thursday night.
With less than a minute to go, Franklin County’s Kai Baker was fouled and sent to the line for a pair of free throws, which he sank, to tie the game at 58.
On the following possession, Tiger point guard Jamahl Gentry found Marcus O’Neal on a backdoor cut, allowing O’Neal to draw the foul and potentially win the game, as he was fouled on a shot attempt.
While able to hit the front end of the free throw attempts, the second shot missed and an immediate foul once again sent Baker to the line, with 2.9 seconds left on the clock.
Baker settled in at the line and sank both free throws to put the Rebels up 60-59.
With less than three seconds left in regulation, Marshall County in-bounded the ball to O’Neal near half-court and a great look at a game-winning shot bounced off the iron, allowing Franklin County to escape with the one-point win over the Tigers.
Franklin County jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the first quarter, but the Tigers continued to claw their way back into the game and tied the score at 30, with Gentry chipping in 10 of the Tigers’ 22 second-quarter points.
The balanced effort continued into the third quarter, with Aja Jones providing the fireworks to the tune of eight points.
For Franklin County, Baker went for a team-high 20 points and scored 10 in the fourth quarter, including making 4-of-6 clutch free throws.
Jones finished with 14 points for the Tigers, while O’Neal added 10.
Franklin Co. 15 15 13 17 — 60
Marshall Co. 8 22 15 14 — 59
Franklin Co.: Kai Baker 20, Bubba Fuqua 13, Brandon Walker 13, Jackson Worley 5, Jacob Sanchez 4, Thomas Clark 3, Ethan Farris 2.
Marshall Co.: Jamahl Gentry 21, Aja Jones 14, Marcus O’Neal 10, Jabrae Howard 8, Xavier Mosley 4, Jayce Harney 2.
3-Point goals: Franklin Co. (6): Fuqua 3, Baker 2, Worley; Marshall Co. (3): Gentry 2, O’Neal.
Halftime score: Franklin Co. 30, Marshall Co. 30.
