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LEXINGTON TWP. —
The red flags were obvious for Marlington in the opening minutes Friday night.
Canton South erupted for 17 points before the Dukes must have known what hit them. Marlington was not going to keep its winning streak going at this pace.
“We decided we were going to commit to defense,” head coach Nick Evanich said.
Mission accomplished.
Marlington slowed the Wildcats the rest of the night and defeated South 70-58 to stay within striking distance in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference race. The Dukes (8-5, 5-3) won their fifth in a row and remained two games behind first-place Salem.
The Dukes held the Wildcats scoreless for more than six minutes after South opened up a 17-9 lead. Later, a 31⁄2-minute South scoring drought stretched over the two halves. The Wildcats also scored just two points over a four-minute stretch in the third quarter.
Marlington turned an eight-point deficit into a 49-34 lead with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We really D’d it up on them and rebounded the ball,” Evanich said. “That allowed us to get into transition.”
Marlington’s Lucas Strouble finished with game highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Andrews had 19 points to match a season high for the Dukes. Shawn Kirk added 15.
A Strouble double-double is no surprise. The 6-foot-5 senior forward came in averaging 20.1 points and 13.8 rebounds.
Andrews helped the Dukes deliver a crushing blow in the third quarter. The 5-9 sophomore guard scored eight points during a 12-2 run that pushed Marlington’s lead to 15.
“I wanted to make the extra pass, but when I had an opportunity to shoot it I made sure I made it and helped my team out,” Andrews said.
Andrews missed his first two shots, then hit eight straight from the field to finish the night.
“Chris has been making big strides throughout the year,” Evanich said. “We knew he was a talented kid, and he has done a great job of playing within the offense and trusting the older guys. The older guys trust him in return.
“He has balance when he shoots the ball. He’s a very good shooter, especially that mid-range game. He played outstanding.”
After opening the season with 11 straight wins, the Wildcats suddenly find themselves on a two-game losing streak and out of first place in the NBC. The defeat comes a week after South (11-2, 6-2) lost at Alliance, which also is in the title hunt.
“We have to return to the way we were playing the first half of the season,” South head coach Frank Spotleson said. “I think these guys can respond and do that.”
Armand Fontes led South with 20 points. Kyle Deckerd added 15 points and seven rebounds.
The red flags were obvious for Marlington in the opening minutes Friday night.
Canton South erupted for 17 points before the Dukes must have known what hit them. Marlington was not going to keep its winning streak going at this pace.
“We decided we were going to commit to defense,” head coach Nick Evanich said.
Mission accomplished.
Marlington slowed the Wildcats the rest of the night and defeated South 70-58 to stay within striking distance in the Northeastern Buckeye Conference race. The Dukes (8-5, 5-3) won their fifth in a row and remained two games behind first-place Salem.
The Dukes held the Wildcats scoreless for more than six minutes after South opened up a 17-9 lead. Later, a 31⁄2-minute South scoring drought stretched over the two halves. The Wildcats also scored just two points over a four-minute stretch in the third quarter.
Marlington turned an eight-point deficit into a 49-34 lead with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We really D’d it up on them and rebounded the ball,” Evanich said. “That allowed us to get into transition.”
Marlington’s Lucas Strouble finished with game highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Andrews had 19 points to match a season high for the Dukes. Shawn Kirk added 15.
A Strouble double-double is no surprise. The 6-foot-5 senior forward came in averaging 20.1 points and 13.8 rebounds.
Andrews helped the Dukes deliver a crushing blow in the third quarter. The 5-9 sophomore guard scored eight points during a 12-2 run that pushed Marlington’s lead to 15.
“I wanted to make the extra pass, but when I had an opportunity to shoot it I made sure I made it and helped my team out,” Andrews said.
Andrews missed his first two shots, then hit eight straight from the field to finish the night.
“Chris has been making big strides throughout the year,” Evanich said. “We knew he was a talented kid, and he has done a great job of playing within the offense and trusting the older guys. The older guys trust him in return.
“He has balance when he shoots the ball. He’s a very good shooter, especially that mid-range game. He played outstanding.”
After opening the season with 11 straight wins, the Wildcats suddenly find themselves on a two-game losing streak and out of first place in the NBC. The defeat comes a week after South (11-2, 6-2) lost at Alliance, which also is in the title hunt.
“We have to return to the way we were playing the first half of the season,” South head coach Frank Spotleson said. “I think these guys can respond and do that.”
Armand Fontes led South with 20 points. Kyle Deckerd added 15 points and seven rebounds.
