Article and Photos by T Ray Henry
The Marshall High School girls basketball team played host to the Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School Lady Buffaloes in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday morning, January 31st. The Lions came in with a season record of 10-9, while Georgetown-Ridge Farm came in with a record of 12-10.
Marshall won the opening tip and went right at the Lady Buffaloes. With Marlee Heighton up top, she passed the ball down on the right side to Lynn Welborn, who curled around a screen to catch the ball and go straight up to score, putting the Lions up 2-0. Two free throws by the visitors tied the game at 2, then Marshall went ahead 5-2 when Marlee Heighton took a pass from Harper Richardson at the top of the key, and Heighton drilled a three-pointer for a 5-2 Marshall lead. On the ensuing play, Lynn Welborn stole the ball and outraced the Georgetown-Ridge Farm squad all the way down the floor to score, putting the Lions ahead 7-2 with a minute and a half gone in the game.
After two missed free throws for the Lady Buffaloes, Marshall’s Harper Richardson scored from the left side of the key to make the score 9-2 with 5:45 left on the clock. One free throw scored by the Lady Buffaloes made it 9-3, then another bucket by the visitors made it 9-5. Marshall then scored eight straight points to open up a 17-5 lead with 1:30 to go in the first. Two free throws by Marlee Heighton, followed by a bucket by Lynn Welborn after all five Marshall players on the floor handled the rock made the score 13-5. Two fast break baskets, one by Harper Richardson and the other by Lynn Welborn, made it 17-5.
After one free throw by Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Marshall once again came up the floor and all five players handled the ball before Marlee Heighton drained a three-pointer from up top on the right. Down the stretch, Marshall stole the ball on defense, and Harper Richardson sent a long pass ahead to a streaking Lynn Welborn, who scored to make the score 22-6 at the end of quarter #1.
Georgetown-Ridge Farm scored seven straight points to open up the second quarter to get within nine (22-13) with 5 ½ to go. Another two baskets by Georgetown-Ridge Farm tightened the game to five points (22-17) before Marshall’s Ella Mattas splashed a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Lions up 25-17. A free throw by Addy Ross gave the Lions a nine-point lead (26-17). After a defensive stop, Marshall’s Marlee Heighton found Ella Mattas behind the arc on the left wing, and Mattas swished the three-pointer to give the Lions a 12-point lead at the half (29-17).
In the second half, Marshall grew its lead to 20 points before coasting the rest of the way to win the game by the score of 49-36. Scoring in the second half for Marshall were Lynn Welborn with four field goals and three free throws, McKenzie Davis with a field goal from the left elbow, Lilly Ross with a nice three-pointer from the right wing on a pass from Abbie Thompson, Jayden Jones with a score from the left side, and Caitlyn Hilliard and Harper Richardson with a free throw apiece.
Lynn Welborn led Marshall with 21 points during the game. Marlee Heighton had 8, Ella Mattas had 6, Harper Richardson had 5, Lilly Ross had 3, McKenzie Davis and Jayden Jones had 2 apiece, while Addy Ross and Caitlyn Hilliard each finished with 1 point.
Other statistical leaders:
Assists - Richardson 6, Heighton 5
Steals - Welborn 4, Heighton 4, Davis 2, Richardson 2
Rebounds - Welborn 11, A. Ross 7, Richardson 5
In the junior varsity contest, Marshall’s JV squad led 12-4 after one and 28-11 at the half. They continued to score throughout the second half, cruising to a 49-21 win over the Lady Buffaloes. Coincidentally, Marshall's varsity squad matched the junior varsity by scoring the same 49 points in their contest.
The JV Lions put three players in double figures, led by Lilly Ross with 14 points. McKenzie Davis and Aubree Shaffer each scored 10 points, while Aria Ogle finished with 6 points. Nya Engledow scored 3 points, and Macy Roberts, Jayden Jones, and Kyla Gustafson each had 2 points.
The Lions return to action Tuesday night, February 3rd when they host ALAH (Arthur/Lovington/Atwood/Hammond) in a varsity-only contest inside McNary Gymnasium. Tipoff for the varsity contest is set for 6:00 PM.
Ella Mattas (24) goes inside and scores against the Lady Buffaloes of Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Lynn Welborn goes up and scores 2 of her team-leading 21 points vs Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Harper Richardson (32) makes an acrobatic shot in the win over Georgetown-Ridge Farm