Warriors fall to Marshall in state semifinals

By COSMO COSSEY

Poinsett County

Democrat Tribune

EPC's Landon Nichols scores a basket in the paint during Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal action in Rector. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

EPC (14-14) jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first half of the opening quarter only to let that lead slip away and then lead for the last time at the 1:50 mark on their way to a 73-46 loss to Marshall in the quarter-final round of the Class 2A state tournament basketball tournament in Rector.

The Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead before Landon Nichols scored inside to tie the game. Marshall retook the lead at 4-2 only to see EPC get a jumper from Jamarkius Garrett, a stick back from Nichols and back to back triple twine from Omar McCuiston to make the score 12-4 Warriors with 4:20 left. Marshall cut the lead to 12-9 with a three-ball and two free throws as McCuiston canned another three-pointer to make it 15-9. Back-to-back treys from the Bobcats tied the game at 15 before McCuiston gave EPC its last lead of the night at 17-15 with a jumper in the lane. Marshall added a three-ball and a lay up to take a 20-17 lead after one quarter.

Hayden Holiman's stick back early in the second quarter made it 20-19 Marshall only to see the Bobcats score the next 11 points to go up 31-19 with 4:31 left. McCuiston scored inside, Marshall hit a jumper, Jacob Gaines put back an offensive rebound only to see the Bobcats hit a three-ball and score two straight baskets in the paint to take a 40-23 lead at halftime.

The third quarter saw McCuiston score all of EPC's points only to see Marshall score twice after each basket.

McCuiston converted an old-school three-point play as the Bobcats hit a jumper and scored inside to make it 44-26.

McCuiston hit two free throws before Marshall hit two free throws and scored inside making the score 48-28.

McCuiston drilled a three-pointer as the Bobcats hit triple twine and a stick back to make it 53-31. McCuiston drilled another three-pointer only to see Marshall hit a jumper and a three-pointer at the buzzer to make the score 58-34 after three quarters.

Marshall opened the fourth quarter with 9-2 run with Dee Buchanan scoring inside for the Warriors to make it 67-36 Bobcats. With 7:02 left the sportsmanship clock went into effect.

Jacob Gaines hit one-of-two free throws and a runner around an old-fashioned three-point play from the Bobcats to make the score 70-39. Marshall canned a three-pointer to make it 73-39, before EPC got one of two technical free throws from Trevar Smith and back-to-back three-pointers from Jamaure Young to set the final score at 73-46 Marshall.

“We didn't get the results we wanted but that's a part of life and a part of basketball,” EPC head coach JeMarcus Thaxton said after the game. “We gotta make shots to win a game,” Thaxton added. “We put the work in all season to give ourselves a chance to be here. The kids got better every week of the season,” Thaxton said.

McCuiston led EPC with 24 points on the night as Young finished with six points and Jacob Gaines added five points. Nichols netted four points, Garrett, Holiman and Buchanan all scored two points as Smith chipped in a point for the Warriors.