Marshall stuns HillcrestSouthern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
In what most will consider the biggest upset of the post season the Marshall Lady Patriots ended the season of fourth ranked Hillcrest with a 52-40 performance reminiscent of last season’s Marshall team that narrowly lost to Leake in the state AA final. Junior Callie Clanton led a balanced Marshall attack with 17 points in a win that sets up a semi-final game with Oak Hill on Friday at 1 pm.
Marshall wasted little time as the Lady Patriots went up 3-0 just 30 seconds into the game when Kelsey Shaw drilled a 3-pointer from the wing. Hillcrest tied the game at 4-4 on a Breanna Howard drive and score with 1:30 remaining in the opening quarter. The Lady Cougars took the lead at 6-4 on their next possession as Beverly Bailey canned two free throws but that would be the only lead Hillcrest would enjoy. Callie Clanton hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 22 seconds left in the quarter as Marshall ended the quarter with a slim 7-6 advantage.
Marshall took control of the game in the second quarter and at the 5:29 mark cashed in on a Hillcrest turnover when sophomore Emma Elgin drained a 3-pointer from the wing that put the Lady Patriots on top 15-8. Hillcrest answered with baskets from Breanna Howard and two Beverly Bailey free throws to trim the deficit to 15-12 with 3:56 left in the half but the Lady Cougars had no answer for the Marshall offense. Marshall ended the second quarter with a 13-0 run that included two Emma Elgin 3-pointers to take a 28-12 lead into halftime.
Marshall wasted little time as the Lady Patriots went up 3-0 just 30 seconds into the game when Kelsey Shaw drilled a 3-pointer from the wing. Hillcrest tied the game at 4-4 on a Breanna Howard drive and score with 1:30 remaining in the opening quarter. The Lady Cougars took the lead at 6-4 on their next possession as Beverly Bailey canned two free throws but that would be the only lead Hillcrest would enjoy. Callie Clanton hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 22 seconds left in the quarter as Marshall ended the quarter with a slim 7-6 advantage.
Marshall took control of the game in the second quarter and at the 5:29 mark cashed in on a Hillcrest turnover when sophomore Emma Elgin drained a 3-pointer from the wing that put the Lady Patriots on top 15-8. Hillcrest answered with baskets from Breanna Howard and two Beverly Bailey free throws to trim the deficit to 15-12 with 3:56 left in the half but the Lady Cougars had no answer for the Marshall offense. Marshall ended the second quarter with a 13-0 run that included two Emma Elgin 3-pointers to take a 28-12 lead into halftime.
(Above) Callie Clanton (#14) of Marshall eludes two Hillcrest defendersHillcrest started the third quarter with a Beverly Bailey 3-pointer from the wing to cut the Marshall lead to 28-15 but the Lady Cougars soon found themselves staring at a 37-21 deficit following an Emily Burk basket halfway through the quarter. Hillcrest closed out the third quarter on a Breanna Howard lay-in at the buzzer but the Lady Cougars would enter the final quarter down 38-25.
Marshall showed no signs of relinquishing their lead as they grabbed a 45-29 advantage on an Emma Elgin basket with 4:21 left in the contest. Hillcrest got to within ten points at 48-38 on a Breanna Howard bucket with 56 seconds left but Marshall hit four free throws in the final 54 seconds to seal up a 52-40 first round win.
(Above) Beverly Bailey (#24) of Hillcrest gets past Callie Clanton of MarshallMarshall improves to 15-17 with the win.
“We’re playing our best basketball of the year,” said Marshall head coach Craig Dailey. “We’re better than our record indicates but that’s because of our tough schedule.” On what challenges Hillcrest posed Dailey said, “They’re so athletic and quick and shoot free throws at a high rate but we overcame matchup problems and defended well.”
Marshall was led by Callie Clanton with 17 points, Emma Elgin added 12, Emily Burk 10, Kelsey Shaw 9 and Chelsey Gilliam 4.
Beverly Bailey led Hillcrest with 17 points, Breanna Howard added 15, Karly Kliesch 6 and Jessica Griffin 2.
The Lady Cougars finish the season with an 18-11 mark.
MA...7...21...10...14...52
HC...6....6....13...15...40
