Marshall Moves To Top Of District 15-5A With Win Against Texas High

MARSHALL -- There were lots of individual statistics winners in the Mavericks' 80-64 win Friday against Texas High for the lead in the District 15-5A race.

Nine players finished with double digits. But, even then, Marshall's Tiandre Jackson-Young stood out.

The junior forward finished the pivotal league game with 11 baskets and two converted free throws after scores for a total of 24 points. He also brought down 10 rebounds and recorded three steals to help keep the Tigers at an arm's length.

And he dunked. Three times. Much to the pleasure of a packed house.

"We know we made a statement," Jackson-Young said. "We both came into this game undefeated (in district). The team that worked the hardest was going to win. We came in and worked hard. We had a sloppy, slow second half. We came back out and got after them."

The game was supposed to be a barnburner, so fans got to campus early and the schools' junior varsity squads got to enjoy an above-average crowd on the way to a tight Tigers victory.

Texas High's varsity squad entered the game with a 4-0 district record and a game in hand. Marshall, with just one loss all season, started league play with five wins and no losses.

It didn't take long for the fans to justify the trip. Jackson-Young slammed down the first Mavericks points of the night.

The race was on.

Texas High (7-10, 4-1) threw its entire, three-man bench against Marshall's starting lineup early in the first quarter and scrapped its way out to a 9-6 lead.

"We've faced that a couple of times this year," Mavericks head coach Bobby Carson said. "I think that's part of having eight seniors. They have seen it before, and 17 and 18-year-olds are mentally mature enough to handle that. Texas High, they are athletic as all get out. Quick. They're as quick as any team we've played.

"Not the margin of victory, but just to win was a huge step for us."

Jackson-Young spurred a 15-0 run with his second score of the night and a free throw for an old fashioned 3-point play. Jay McKnight scored five of his 11 points in the game during the run for a 21-9 advantage.

Jackson-Young upped the streak to 17-0 with an assist to Tyler Ray Leonard on the Mavericks' (22-1, 6-0) second possession of the second period.

Texas High got a possession closer before halftime thanks to a 13-5 run featuring two steals for points, four straight converted free throws and a big 3-point shot from forward JaNiro Lane.

But Jackson-Young scored nine more points before the intermission to spearhead an 18-15 run to the finish won by Marshall.

The Mavericks upped their shooting percentage from 56 percent in the first half to 67 percent afterward. They were working in the double bonus with 5:12 to play and finished the game out rebounding Texas High on the defensive side, 19-14.

Without a shot clock, the team began weaving back and forth between the mid-court line and the top of the key. It successfully burned off 2:47.

Marshall also shot 11-for-12 after Texas High's 10th foul of the second half.

The Tigers had five of the nine double digit scorers in Friday's game. Quan Hampton and Jaylen Rhone scored 13 points each and Damian Willis threw in 12. Lane and R.J. Reid both score 10 for Texas High.

Lane and Reid came off the short bench.

Shimar Jones and Chris Jones joined Jackson-Young and McKnight with 17 points and 13 points, respectively. Those four players started the game.

Texas High will take on Greenville at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Marshall simultaneously will take on a Mount Pleasant team that still has quite a bit of say in the final district outcome.

Friday's opponents will meet again Feb. 10 in Texarkana.

"This was the biggest I've played in yet because we had a point to prove," Shimar Jones said. "We wanted to see who was the best in district. We wanted to prove our point."

Marshall 80, Texas High 64

District 15-5A Boys Basketball
At Marshall High School, Marshall

Texas High 9 28 15 12 -- 64
Marshall 21 27 15 17 -- 80
TEXAS HIGH (7-10, 4-1) -- Quan Hampton 13; Jaylen Rhone 13; Damian Willis 12; JaNiro Lane 10; R.J. Reid 10; Lavon Brown 4; Curtis Crump 2.
MARSHALL (22-1, 5-0) -- Tiandre Jackson-Young 24; Shimar Jones 17; Chris Jones 13; Jay McKnight 11; Trel Patton 4; Cortez Hurd 3; Curtis Kador 3; Tyler Ray Leonard 2; D'Vonte Hood 1.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Texas High: Hampton (2), Lane (2), Willis. Marshall: Kador, Chris Jones, McKnight.