Go West young man!!!!!!
District rivals Liberty Tech and Bolivar Central will tangle for the fifth time this season as the Crusaders and Tigers posted victories in their respective semi-final games this afternoon at the Murphy Center.
Bolivar Central needed overtime and some clutch foul shooting from senior Jay Murphy (Bolivar Central) to slide past Marshall County 64-58.
Marshall County held a substantial lead midway through the second half before the TNQ (Tigers Never Quit) came into play and forced some costly turnovers and gave Bolivar the chance to tie things in regulation.
Murphy led Bolivar with 23 points while fellow senior Ricky Tisdale (Bolivar Central) finished with 20.
Jaime Perryman (Marshall County) led the Tigers in scoring with 18. Junior phenom Kedren Johnson (Marshall County) finished with 13 points but suffered through his second game of foul plagued action. Johnson was a Tiger on the boards and showed the unselfishness that makes him the coveted player that he is with timely passing and leadership skills of a champion.
Bolivar Central will tangle with district rival Liberty Tech in tomorrows championship contest slated for a 4:00 start.
The Crusaders parlayed 16 markers from Tarius Johnson (Liberty Tech) and 12 points from DeAndre Barnette (Liberty Tech) to get past an athletic Maplewood group 45-37.
The low scoring affair was a defensive struggle for most of the game with Maplewood right in the thick of things at the 6 minute mark of the fourth quarter after a Fred Lee (Maplewood) three pointer tied the score at 37 all.
Robert Wade (Maplewood) led the Panthers with 23 points in the loss.
