With a new head coach and young basketball team, some early-season ups and downs were expected for the Marshall Statesmen.
A high point was the second-place finish at the recent Mount Vernon Holiday Classic for the girls high school team.
Marshall (7-5) finished with a 2-1 record in the tourney, falling to the host and more experienced Mount Vernon Majors (6-2), 40-37, in the championship game.
Mount Vernon built an early 10-4 margin in the seesaw final, but Marshall rallied to lead a few times. The Majors led 23-22 at halftime and held on at the end.
Tori Barnes scored 19 points and Rachael Sykes nine in the win for Mount Vernon. Natalie Turner, KaMiyah Dabner and Jada Curry were other top scorers in the tournament for Mount Vernon.
The Majors’ other victories in the tournament were over Gar-Field, 58-23, and Justice, 46-33. Marshall’s victories were over the Westfield Bulldogs, 47-26, and the Annandale Atoms, 62-19.
Marshall senior Chloe Cole scored 13 points against Westfield, with sophomores Katie Kuczkowski and Madison Evans having 12 each against Annandale.
Doug Sawitzky is Marshall’s new head coach. He has seen his squad lose to perennial top teams Robinson and Madison this year, but played well at times in those two contests.
Marshall’s seven wins this season are one short of the Statesmen’s victory total last winter. Marshall’s roster includes just four seniors this season.
Mount Vernon is coming off a 16-8 season last winter and expecting another strong campaign. It is expected to be a contender in the National District.
