North Shelby Boys and Marion County Girls Victorious in District Title Games
The North Shelby boys and Marion County girls won district titles on Friday night at La Plata High School.
In the boys’ game, North Shelby never trailed on their way to a 64-57 win over Atlanta. The Raiders withstood several Atlanta rallies over the course of the game. Landon Bender helped that cause late in the third quarter to maintain a double-digit lead.
Colin Schowe with the call on Superstation KRES and centralmoinfo.com. Bender finished the game with ten points off the bench. Brendan McDaniel led the Raiders with 21 points while Carson Orr added 19. The win marked North Shelby’s first district title since 2006. North Shelby boys coach Landon Daniel said he was thrilled with the way his team executed throughout the contest.
The Raiders improve to 18-6 and will face Northwestern Mendon in the Class 1 Sectional at Salisbury on Tuesday night. While Atlanta trailed by as many as 13 points they also cut the deficit down to five on multiple occasions. Jason Viers led the Hornets with 20 points. Atlanta boys coach Jason White said turnovers prevented them from completing the comeback.
The loss snapped a twelve-game winning streak for Atlanta who finishes the season 21-5.
In the girls’ championship, Marion County outlasted La Plata 53-48. For the second game in a row, La Plata overcame a double-digit first half deficit and took a lead late in the third quarter. The score was tied 38-38 entering the fourth. Marion County’s Delaney Straus delivered the go-ahead basket late in the fourth the Lady Mustangs.
Brandon Monty with the call. Straus finished with a game-high 28 points while fellow senior Halle Keiholz added 24 points for Marion County. The win gives Marion County its first district championship since 2014. Lady Mustangs head coach discussed the significance the win for the program and his six seniors.
Marion County advances to the Class 1 Section Tuesday against Linn County. Brooklyn Carvajal led La Plata with 16 points. La Plata will return two of their top scorers in Paige Carvajal and Claire Coy. La Plata girls coach Nathan Simler is optimistic with the direction of the program.
La Plata finishes the season 18-9 marking the most wins for the program since 2016. You can hear full postgame interviews with coaches online at centralmoinfo.com.
North Shelby boys coach Landon Daniel
Marion County girls coach Reed Plunkett
Atlanta boys coach Jason White
La Plata girls coach Nathan Simler