State Championship trophy heading to Holly Springs
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The Marshall Patriots have a motto that is embroidered on their uniforms that reads “We Believe” and that belief in the program and each other paid off on Saturday night as Marshall defeated Simpson 55-45 to win their first Class AA State Championship since 2002. Having played four tension packed games in six days which included a 57-41 win that ended Brookhaven’s six year reign at the top of boy’s Class AA basketball, a win over last season’s state runners-up Bowling Green and two wins over Simpson, an emotionally drained Marshall Head Coach Craig Dailey had nothing but praise to describe the effort his group that he dubbed his “Grasshoppers” put forth during an intense and exhausting week of basketball.
For the first five minutes of the opening quarter against a Simpson team that Marshall had edged 52-46 in the North AA Championship just this past Monday, it looked like a donnybrook was unfolding to claim the state championship.
Four lead changes during those five minutes produced what most had come to see, high intensity pressure basketball but after Austin Herrington’s baseline driving basket and an offensive rebound and put back on the following possession gave Simpson an 8-7 lead at the 4:15 mark of the quarter Marshall did what they had done to Brookhaven, drive to the basket and hit timely 3-point shooting. (Above) Peyton Lewis (#40) of Marshall pulls down a rebound
Marshall grabbed a 10-8 lead on Dakota Dailey’s 3-pointer from the wing and following a Kevin Fitzpatrick free throw the Patriots pushed the lead to five points at 13-8 on Chase Ferrell’s basket in the paint with 2:46 left in the quarter.
After Austin Herrington’s lay-in pulled Simpson back to within three points at 13-10 Marshall reeled of five straight points as Ferrell went glass in the paint and Dailey drilled his second 3-pointer of the quarter to give the Patriots an 18-10 lead after one quarter of play.
Michael Layton of Simpson scored on an inbounds play 45 seconds into the 2nd quarter but Marshall would increase their margin to 23-12 on a driving basket from Dakota Dailey and Dailey then collected his third 3-pointer of the half at the 6:12 mark to give the Patriots their biggest lead.
Marshall’s Chase Ferrell (Photo below) cashed in on a Simpson turnover at the 3:22 mark to push the lead to 27-14 and a Kevin Fitzpatrick offensive rebound and lay-in would cap a 13-2 Marshall run to give the Patriots their biggest lead of the half at 31-14 with 49 seconds remaining. Garrett Taylor’s steal and basket as the half ran out halted the Marshall run but Simpson faced a 31-16 halftime deficit.
Simpson quickly trimmed the deficit to ten points at 31-21 on a Devin Millis basket on the block, an Austin Herrington free throw and two Garrett Taylor free throws with 6:41 remaining in the 3rd quarter but Marshall answered by once again extending their lead. Chase Ferrell’s transition basket and a Taylor Maurey slicing drive through the Simpson defense gave the Patriots a 35-21 advantage at the 5:36 mark.
Maurey’s ability to penetrate the Simpson defense in the paint proved costly for the Cougars as the senior guard cashed in twice more in the quarter to help Marshall maintain a 41-28 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Marshall would grab their biggest lead of the night at 45-30 on a Taylor Maurey drive to the rim with 6:12 remaining in regulation and the Patriots once again displayed how complete a team they are by nailing 10/13 free throws in the quarter to preserve a 55-45 win.
This marks Craig Dailey’s tenth State Championship and first in Class AA.
Marshall was led by Dakota Dailey (Photo above) with 16 points, Taylor Maurey added 15, Chase Ferrell 10, Kevin Fitzpatrick 9, Peyton Lewis 3 and Matt Rappa 2.
Simpson was led by Devin Millis with a game high 18 points, Austin Herrington added 9, Garrett Taylor 8, Josh Hankins 4, Michael Layton 3, Nate Ashley 2 and Cory Herrington 1.
The Class AA State Champions improved to 31-7 and will take on Trinity in the Overall Tournament on Tuesday.
Simpson (25-11) will face off with Jackson Prep also on Tuesday.

*Note*

Marshall's leading scorer in the Class AA State Tournament was 8th grader Dakota Dailey who was just moved up to the varsity squad following the junior varsity season. It may mark the only time in MPSA/MAIS history an 8th grader has done this.

(Photo at top of page: Taylor Maurey (#24) of Marshall defends Austin Herrington (#31) of Simpson

Post Game Comments:

*Marshall Head Coach Craig Dailey

*Marshall senior Taylor Maurey