Marianna Takes Three From Malone 1/15/09

By Clint Cox
Malone traveled to Marianna on Tuesday night with three games on the table as the girl’s varsity, boy’s junior varsity and boy’s varsity all hit the hardwoods. Marianna swept all three contest from the visiting Tigers
In Girls Varsity action the Lady Bulldogs took a 13-11 lead after the first quarter. Marianna was led by Teira Butler with 6 points and Christina Wynn with 5. Malone was paced by Vanessa Olds with 6 points and Latosha Hall with 5 points. Marianna outscored the Lady Tigers 13-6 in the second quarter to take a 26-17 halftime lead. The third quarter was more of the same as Marianna led 41-25 at the end of the quarter. The fourth quarter was evenly played but the Lady Tigers could not muster a rally and fell by 15 points. Marianna, which improved to 7-7 on the season, was led by Wynn with 16 points and Butler with 10. Malone was led by Olds with 16 and Hall with 13.
In Boys Varsity action C.J. Blount exploded for 12 first quarter points to propel the Bulldogs to a 21-12 first quarter lead. Kruise Pinkins added 6 points for the Bulldogs in the opening quarter. Malone battled back in the second quarter as Ladarius McElroy’s bucket cut the Bulldog lead to five at 23-16. But Marianna reeled off 7 unanswered points and then had an 11-2 run. At the half Marianna led 34-22. The third quarter was a closer contest as Marianna outscored Malone 13-10 to take a 47-32 lead. Malone kept battling in the final quarter but Marianna prevailed with a 71-57 win.
Marianna was led on the evening by Blount with 29 points. Pinkins added 16 points and Tre Long chipped in 10 points. Malone, which fell to 8-7, was led by McElroy with 13 points while Mike Peak followed with 12 and Marceil Clemons added 11.
The Bulldog win followed a 66-53 district win for Marianna on Friday night over Holmes County. The Bulldogs led 13-12 at the end of the first quarter and were tied 27-27 at the half. Marianna broke open the game in the third quarter and went on to win by 13 points. R.J. Bowers had a big night as he pumped in 24 points, including four three pointers. Three other Bulldogs were in double figures as Kruise Pinkins hit 14, C.J. Blount added 12 and Tre Long chipped in 11. Marianna’s record now stands at 14-5 on the season and 3-0 in district play.
In boys junior varsity action Marianna jumped out to a big lead early and went on to lead by as many as 20 points. The Tigers closed the gap late in the game as the Bulldogs emptied the bench but Marianna prevailed 61-50. Marianna, which improved to 15-1, was led by Kendall Leeks with 16 points and Tre Jackson with 11. Chai Baker led Malone with 16 while Andre Rodgers added 14.