Marshall to defend title

Southern Sports & Travel

The Marshall Patriots will get the opportunity to defend their Class AA title tonight after defeating third ranked Central Private 63-55 in the first game of the boys semi-finals at Kirk Academy in Grenada, Mississippi last night.

Peyton Lewis and Dakota Dailey each scored 17 points and Marshall overcame a three point deficit heading into the fourth to advance to their second consecutive state championship game.

The first three minutes was dominated by turnovers and what appeared to be the pressure of the moment but once Marshall’s Peyton Lewis scored on an offensive rebound and put back it was on.

With 3:47 left in the opening quarter and the game tied at 4-4 Marshall looked to separate as Peyton Lewis went glass and Dakota Dailey drained a 3-pointer from the wing to give the Patriots a 9-4 lead. After a Dailey free throw on a technical foul Central Private finished the quarter strong.

(Above) Peyton Lewis (#22) of Marshall had 17 points on the night

Lance Wicker would convert on a basket, plus one, and Simpson Anderson hit a long 3-pointer at the horn to pull the rebels to within two points at 12-10.

Central Private took the lead for the first time at 13-12 on a Simpson Anderson 3–pointer from the top of the key thirty seconds into the second quarter but Marshall fired right back with a Peyton Lewis bucket in the paint to reclaim the lead at 14-13 with 6:37 left in the half.

An Alex Overs driving lay-in, plus one, at the 6:28 mark would give Central Private a 16-14 lead and one they wouldn’t relinquish the remainder of the half.

Overs canned two free throws with less than one minute left in the half to close out the scoring with Central Private holding a 24-21 lead.

After Marshall’s Peyton Lewis hit an 8 footer in the lane to pull the Patriots to within one point at 24-23 to start the third quarter Central Private extended their lead to 29-23 on a Simpson Anderson 3-pointer and an Alex Overs basket.

Central Private maintained the lead throughout the first six minutes of the quarter but with the Rebels on top at 35-32 with 2:12 left the Patriots pulled even on a deep 3-pointer from the wing from Marshall freshman Dakota Dailey.

(Above) Marshall's Aaron McAlexander (#10) gets an easy bucket in the first half

Central Private once again closed the quarter with a critical basket. This time it was Luke Fryoux who would nail a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Rebels a 38-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Marshall caught fire in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.

Dakota Dailey went hard to the rim and scored to pull Marshall to within one point at 38-37 and Peyton Lewis drilled a 3-pointer from the wing at the 6:41 mark to give the Patriots a 40-38 lead.

Marshall capitalized on back to back Central Private turnovers to extend their lead to seven points at 51-44 with less than three minutes left in regulation.
Central Private answered with a Simpson Anderson 3-pointer and a Syrshawn Fitch fast break basket at the 2:03 mark to get back to within two points at 54-52 but Marshall  would go 7/7 at the free throw line down the stretch to hold on and take a 63-55 win.

Peyton Lewis and Dakota Dailey each had 17 points to lead Marshall (35-3). Kevin Fitzpatrick added 13, Aaron McAlexander 7, Brad Bennett 5 and Chase Ferrell 4.

Simpson Anderson led Central Private (28-7) with 16 points, Lance Wicker and Alex Overs each had 12, Piers Carroll 6, Syrshawn Fitch 4, Luke Fryoux 3 and Mitch Van Asten 2.