Indians claim Jennings Tournament title

In a game that was state championship quality, Marked Tree held on to beat Bay 70-62 in the finals of the Gerald Jennings Tournament this past Saturday in Lepanto.

The Indians (7-1) got on the board first as Josh Rand scored inside and Ken Carter hit a three-pointer to make it 5-0 Marked Tree early in the opening quarter. Bay (11-8) scored the next five points to tie the game at five before Cam Marshall canned a three-ball, Landon Lewis scored in the paint, and Carter scored off the fast break for Marked Tree to make it 12-5 Indians. The Yellowjackets netted a three-pointer, Carter answered with a three-ball before Bay scored inside to make the score 15-10 Indians with 3:20 left. Lewis scored back to back baskets for Marked Tree as Bay canned a three-ball late to make it 19-13 Indians after one.

Lewis scored back to back baskets for the Indians around a 'Jacket three-pointer to make it 23-16 Marked Tree with 5:40 left. Bay got a stick back, Lewis hit one of two free throws, the Yellowjackets hit a three-ball as Carter scored in the paint to make it 26-21 Indians. Bay hit a jumper, Ladarrius Brown answered with triple twine before the Yellowjackets scored the last seven points of the quarter to take a 30-29 lead at halftime.

Landon Lewis of Marked Tree goes in for a score between Bay's Justin Brannen (3) and Kaden Hartley (5) during the Gerald Jennings Tournament championship game this past Saturday in Lepanto. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Marked Tree got back to back three-pointers from Marshall and Brown early in the third quarter to make it 35-30 Indians. Bay netted a jumper, Brown connected on a jumper, the 'Jackets canned a three-ball and Carter answered with a three-ball from the top of the key making the score 40-35 Marked Tree. Bay converted an old-school three-point play, Brown hit a trey from the left corner, Bay hit one of two free throws as Marshall hit triple twine making the score 46-39 Indians with 2:08 left. The Yellowjackets hit a three-ball, Brown hit a jumper, Bay scored the next five points before Carter canned a three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 51-47 Indians after three quarters of play.

Bay hit a jumper to open the fourth quarter only to see Marked Tree score the next six points on a bucket inside from Rand before Marshall scored in the paint and converted an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 58-49 Indians. Bay converted a conventional three-point play, but Marked Tree got back to back baskets from Rand and Brown to make it 62-52 with 4:22 left. Bay converted another old-fashioned three-point opportunity, then Marshall hit a jumper in the lane, the 'Jackets hit two free throws before Lewis scored back-to back-baskets to make it 68-57 Indians. Bay cut the lead to 68-62 with five of six free throws followed by Lewis scoring inside to set the final score at 70-62 Marked Tree.

“We turned the ball over to much but I think we played pretty good defensively,” Marked Tree head coach Barbara Wilburn said after the game. “I think we kind of wore them down at the end. We still have to work on our turnovers,” Wilbur added. “Back-to-back big wins after being on the football field just a couple weeks ago is big for us. I think we are turning the ship,” Wilburn said.

Lewis scored 17 points to lead the Indians while Carter and Marshall finished with 16 point each. Brown added 15 points and Rand chipped in six points for Marked Tree.