Marshall Boys Gut Out 74-66 Win Against Longview

LONGVIEW -- Marshall endured 12 lead changes on the way to an uplifting 74-66 win against chief rival Longview inside a packed Lobo Coliseum.

Forget for a moment the rivalry connotations of Friday's game. The Mavericks showed what they can do against one of the most athletic high schools in the region on a yearly basis.

"Longview plays so hard," Marshall head coach Bobby Carson said. "They did a great job. We kept thinking we were putting them away and they kept coming back. They wouldn't go away. That's typical of a Billy Goffney coached team. They'll never quit."

The victory provided Marshall (20-1, 3-0) with just a bit more breathing room in the District 15-5A race. Longview (10-8, 2-1) entered the game in a share of first place with the Mavericks, Mt. Pleasant and Texas High.

Mt. Pleasant fell to Hallsville and Texas High defeated Pine Tree, 63-45, to remain at the the top alongside Marshall.

Despite a 14-3 Mavericks' run through the first five minutes and 18 points from Shimar Jones through the first 16 minutes, Longview was in position to take the game well into the second half. The Lobos outscored Marshall 20-13 in the second quarter for a 34-34 tie at the halftime intermission.

But Jones kept clicking in the second half for 31 points in the game and big man Tiandre Jackson-Young stood out in the second half with the first five Mavericks points in the third quarter.

Jackson-Young opened the floor for the guards en route to 16 points in the game, and Marshall scored 17 points in the period for a 51-46 lead entering the final quarter.

"Marshall really hasn't been able to beat Longview here in football or basketball recently," Jackson-Young said. "I wanted to play my hardest because I really wanted to win this ballgame. My teammates did the work. I know the fans enjoyed it because they were going crazy."

Jay McKnight was a third Mavericks scorer to reach double-digit figures. He finished the game with 12 points.

The Lobos got 20 points from Trez O'Quinn and 11 from Antwone Anthony. JaMycal Hasty made some timely scores, including a game-tying 3-point shot to set up his own go-ahead layup with about 1:50 to play in the third quarter.

That was Longview's final lead though.

Trailing 43-41, Marshall's Trel Patton hit a jumpshot and Jackson-Young reclaimed the lead with a shot down low. The Mavericks then got a 3-ball from McKnight off his own steal and an off-balance, 3-point buzzer beater from Jones to close the period on a 10-3 run that lasted exactly 100 seconds.

Marshall carried the run over to the fourth quarter with another Jones shot from the floor, but the Lobos got the score back within 53-51 with an Anthony free throw, Jaiden Smith's put back on a missed free throw and a layup from O'Quinn.

Jackson-Young sandwiched a pair of scores around another basket from Jones beforethe team reached the bonus with 4:54 to play. The Mavericks made 13 of 14 shots from the charity stripe after Longview's seventh foul of the half in addition to Jones' final basket.

"I came here tonight very confident in the way we would play," Jones said. "It's even better leaving. We're practicing hard each day at 6:30 a.m. while everybody else is sleeping. We're working hard."

Longview will try to regroup Tuesday on the road at Texas High. The Mavericks simultaneously visit Greenville.

The two teams will meet again Feb. 3 in Marshall.

"This is a tough district," Carson said. "Any time you can win on the road, it's a huge plus. I'm just happy. They've still got to come to our place, but I'd rather be 3-0 than 2-1."  

Marshall 74, Longview 66

District 15-5A Game

At Lobo Coliseum, Longview

Marshall                      19      15     17    23   --   74
Longview                    14      20     12    20   --   66

Marshall (20-1, 3-0)-- Shimar Jones 33; Tiandre Jackson-Young 16; Jay McKnight 12; Chris Jones 8; Cortez Hurd 3; Trel Patton 2.
Longview (10-8, 2-1)-- Trez O'Quinn 21; Antwone Anthony 11; Kyle Shields 9; JaMycal Hasty 9; Jaiden Smith 8; Kendall Jones 4; Kaland Johnson 2; Dale Wallace 2.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Marshall: Jones (4), McKnight (3). Longview: Shields (3), Hasty, O'Quinn.