Marshall County (21-8, Fourth District Champions) v. Ballard Memorial (16-14, Third District Runner-Up)

Head to Head...Marshall County and Ballard Memorial did not meet during the regular season.

Last five games...Marshall County 3-2, Ballard Memorial 2-3

Games decided by five points or less...Marshall County 1-4, Ballard Memorial 3-3

When scoring 60 points or more...Marshall County 7-2,  Ballard Memorial 7-4

When scoring less than 60 points ...Marshall County 14-6, Ballard Memorial 9-10

Average points per game...Marshall County 57.7, Ballard Memorial 58.0

Average points allowed per game...Marshall County 48.9, Ballard Memorial 55.8

Against the regional tournament field...Marshall County 6-3, Ballard Memorial 2-5

Strength of schedule...Advantage, Marshall County.  The strength of the schedules are a bit closer than you might have guessed, but Marshall still has an advantage thanks to a pair of battles with Massac County, IL and Paducah Tilghman, as well as a late season trip to Christian County.  Ballard Memorial has balanced their schedule nicely to fit the growth of the program, and the schedule was toughened significantly to match the rise of this talented group.  The Bombers added a game with Paducah Tilghman, and there's no doubt that their run through the All-A Classic to the state tournament and a meeting with Shelby Valley will have helped prepare them for the regional tournament stage.

Eight is Enough...Clark.  Atkinson.  Wilson.  York.  Edwards.  Nelson.  Wiseman.  Carter.  That's the roll call of the Marshals' elite eight, a deep and versatile rotation that all have one thing in common.  They will guard you.  Any one of the eight could lead the Marshals in scoring tonight.  Any one of the eight could lead them in rebounding.  And most of the eight could lead the team in assists.  They all play very hard, and they excel at embracing and executing their particular role.  Blake Clark is the floor leader.  Stephen Atkinson is the live body athlete that can change the game.  Tanner Wilson is the floor-spacing three-point machine.  Chase York is an explosive and well-rounded permeter scorer.  Cole Nelson is the secondary ball-handler who does a little bit of everything.  Andrew Edwards is the bruising interior presence.  Colby Wiseman is the junkyard dog.  And John Carter is the live wire energy boost off the bench.  It's a nice mix...to say the least.

Man in the Middle-ton...Jay Middleton offers the Bombers a unique combination of strength, skill, and basketball IQ.  He puts the power in power forward, but he has the touch and passing ability of a guard...and it all fits together with a tremendous understanding of how to play.  Middleton gets his 17 points a night in ruthlessly efficient fashion, never dominating the basketball and almost always getting a high percentage shot.  He also moves and shares the basketball well, and if defenses are designed to take him away, he will willingly set the table for his teammates.  Alex Mallory has become a big-time wing scorer for Ballard, but everything should start with the big fella in either the low or high post.  How Marshall tries to guard him...and if they can guard him...will be one of the night's biggest questions.  You can add this question to that list...Can Ballard get Middleton enough touches against Marshall's perimeter pressure?

Unsung Heroes...This game is full of blue-collar, hard-hat guys who do whatever it takes to win basketball games.  Edwards had a huge first half scoring the ball to help Marshall past Calloway in the Fourth District tournament, and that star turn was well-deserved for a guy who normally toils in the shadows of playing tough defense around the rim and rebounding the basketball.  Wiseman was also terrific in the Fourth District final, and he is another guy who may contribute without scoring a point.  Wiseman is going to beat and bang and guard, and he'll be the first guy on the floor after a loose ball.  Or he may step out and knock down a three to beat you.  Carter gives the Marshals another long, high-energy guy in the frontcourt off the bench, and he has shown the ability to hit for double figures along with a penchant for being physical on the glass and on the defensive end of the floor.  How that trio fares guarding and rebounding against Middleton and 6-6 Ryan Buchanan will be a huge story tonight.  Will Mallory is cut from the same mold for Ballard Memorial.  The 6-1 forward is bull strong, and he can either get dirty under the backboards or step out on the floor offensively.  His tenacity and leadership are a key factory for the Bombers.  The aforementioned Buchanan can be a double-double guy each night, and his size and presence often serves as a huge difference maker.  And Ballard's hopes may ultimately rest in the hands of a pair of small guards.  Alex Hill will need to be under control and take care of the ball against Marshall's withering pressure, and eighth-grader Zack Chaykowsky will need to help Hill with that burden, as well as continuing his habit of burying big threes in big games.

Your Pace...or Mine?...This issue will ultimately determine whether or not we have a truly intiguing contest...one that might end with Ballard owning its first regional tournament victory since 1982 (kudos to the Paducah Sun's Joey Fosko for the research)...or if Marshall County will zip to the semifinals.  To what lengths will Marshall go to push the pace of the game?  Will they press full-court?  Will they trap in the half-court?  Or will they simply use suffocating perimeter pressure with their standard man-to-man half-court to keep Ballard running their offense 35 feet from the basket?  Can Ballard handle any and all of the above, and can they hammer away at the Marshals on the interior.  Will Ballard be able to get an early lead, stay in their big and long zone, and make Marshall County take 20+ threes?  Will Marshall make them in such an eventuality?  Who does a close game favor?  Will Marshall make free throws?  If you can answer those questions...you know our winner.  The score will matter some...but HOW the game is played will matter more.

Marshall County wins...

• If the game gets into the 60's.
• If they hit eight threes and/or make 40% of their attempts
• If they make 70% of their free throws
• If they win the glass.

Ballard Memorial wins...

• If the game stays in the 40's
• If they win the rebounding battle by ten or more
• If they limit turnovers to twelve or less
• If they outscore Marshall County at the foul line