Article and Photos by T Ray Henry
On Friday, February 6th, the Marshall High School boys basketball team hosted the Newton Community High School Eagles for a conference battle on Senior Night for the Lions. Senior members of the boys basketball team, cheerleaders, Marshallettes, pep band, Scholastic Bowl, and trap shooting team were recognized between the junior varsity and varsity games inside a jam-packed McNary Gymnasium on the campus of Marshall High School. The Marshall student section came out in full force dressed in a USA theme, and the students were loudly cheering on the Lions all game long.
Marshall came into the contest with a record of 9-12 after losing at home on Wednesday to West Vigo (IN), while Newton came in with a record of 11-10 after falling to IHSA Class 2A #3 Teutopolis by four points earlier in the week. The Eagles were trying to keep pace with Casey-Westfield and stay in second place in the conference standings as both Newton and the purple school on the other side of the county both had one conference loss apiece. Lawrenceville remains atop the LIC standings with an undefeated conference record to go along with their Number 1 ranking in IHSA Class 1A.
If one were to describe in one word the environment inside McNary Gym during this game between the Lions and the Eagles, that word would be Electric with a capital E. The Lions jumped on the Eagles on both ends of the floor during the first quarter as the old gym rocked like it did 15-20 years ago. The Lions dominated on the glass and on the defensive end as Big Red fans and students screamed at every turn. On the offensive end, Marshall dialed up five three-pointers in the first quarter, four by Payton McGuire and one by Tucker Osborn, to propel the Lions out to a 19-9 lead after the first eight minutes of play. In the second quarter, the Lions kept their collective foot on the gas as they played stifling defense, holding Newton to just six points in the quarter to take a 32-15 halftime advantage that had Newton fans sitting in stunned silence. Marshall increased their advantage in the third quarter to take a 52-30 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth, Newton made a charge to get back in the game, but the Big Red weathered the storm. Payton McGuire, Garrett Pugh, and Tommy Sheehy each hit critical free throws down the stretch, and Marshall came away with a 71-62 win over Newton that dropped the Eagles out of second place tie in the conference standings.
Newton scored the first basket of the game before Marshall’s Payton McGuire dialed up a three, his first of six in the game, for the Lions to lead 3-2. The triple by McGuire also counted for the only lead change of the game. In the blink of an eye, a 3-2 Marshall lead expanded to 8-2 when Tucker Osborn scored and was fouled at the 5:58 mark, and after his free throw bounced off the rim, Marshall got the offensive rebound. Osborn curled around the baseline over to the left side where he received a pass. Osborn lined up the shot and drained a three-pointer that hit nothing but the bottom of the net at 5:51, and Marshall suddenly had a six-point lead as Marshall’s student section erupted.
Payton McGuire got hot behind the line by sinking three additional three-pointers for Marshall to take a 17-7 lead as the Eagles were grasping for answers on how to guard the senior who was in the zone from behind the arc. After Newton scored at the rim to get within 8 points (17-9), Marshall’s Payton McGuire brought the ball up the floor, then after drawing a couple Eagle defenders to him, McGuire passed the ball down on the right side to Liam Keim, who passed the ball over to Garrett Pugh on the left side of the lane. Pugh dribbled in and dropped a hook shot through for the Lions to take a 19-9 lead after one quarter of play.
In the second stanza, Garrett Pugh scored inside the lane to give Marshall a 21-9 lead. After a stop on the defensive end, Marshall came back in transition, and Newton got another taste of Payton McGuire sinking another triple, this time from the top of the key, to make the score 24-9 as the Eagles called time out. A Newton score was answered by the Lions when Tommy Sheehy hit two free throws, and with 4:11 to go until halftime, Marshall now led 26-11. Two more buckets inside by Garrett Pugh, along with a drive and teardrop down the right side of the lane by Payton McGuire, gave Marshall a 32-15 lead at the break. The Newton squad was simply befuddled by Marshall’s defensive pressure throughout the first half.
The teams played to a virtual stalemate in the third quarter, with Marshall scoring 20 points to Newton’s 15 (which matched their output of the entire first half). Tucker Osborn and Payton McGuire each dialed in a three, and McGuire (2 field goals) and Garrett Pugh (1 field goal) accounted for Marshall’s other points from the field. Newton decided to play physical, and Marshall went to the free throw line and hit their shots from the charity stripe (Payton McGuire – 2, Garrett Pugh – 2, and Tucker Osborn – 4). At the end of three quarters, Marshall led 52-30.
In the final quarter of action, Newton mounted a charge to get all the way back into the game, closing the gap to six points with 2:49 to go on the clock as the Lions could only generate two field goals by Garrett Pugh during the Eagles’ comeback. With the game hanging in the balance, however, Marshall hit their free throws to increase their lead at the finish. Payton McGuire sank 11 free throws down the stretch, while Garrett Pugh and Tommy Sheehy both hit two pivotal free throws for Marshall to maintain a comfortable lead. In the final seconds of the contest, Marshall’s Bryce Griguhn, who has missed the last couple of games, came onto the floor to a rousing standing ovation from the Marshall faithful. When the final buzzer sounded, Marshall sent all the seniors home winners, defeating Newton by the score of 71-62. The 71 points scored by the Lions was the largest offensive output of the season up to this point in the campaign.
Payton McGuire led the Lions with 37 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Garrett Pugh finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Tucker Osborn continued his scoring streak by ending up with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 assist. Tommy Sheehy rounded out the scoring for Marshall by tallying 4 points, including two crucial free throws down the stretch. 25 of Marshall’s 71 points came at the free throw line.
Marshall, which also defeated Okaw Valley on Saturday afternoon (see other article), now holds a record of 11-12. The Lions return to action this coming Tuesday, February 10th when they travel to Notre Dame de La Salette Academy in Georgetown to take on the Lions inside their venerable gymnasium. If you’ve never been to a game at La Salette Academy, make plans to attend. It is a special experience and a great atmosphere, with the entire La Salette student body in attendance, banging drums and waving flags as they sing in unison and cheer on their team all game long.
Payton McGuire (13) was hot all game long in scoring 37 points and grabbing 8 rebounds to go along with 2 assists & 3 steals on Senior Night
Newton could not contain Garrett Pugh inside as he scored 18 points, pulled down 9 rebounds and had 3 steals
Tucker Osborn continued his late-season surge with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, & an assist against Newton
Marshall's student section came out strong with the USA theme on Senior Night
Marshall senior cheerleader Lexie Clark flies high over the crowd at halftime of the Marshall - Newton game
