Stories from Sunday, December 11, 2016

To the victor goes to spoils, and the spoils for the two-time 4A semifinalist Tigers have been two players from the 2015 team sign with college football squads and four members of the current squad with Division I offers. Steven Clemmons, the anchor of the record setting offensive line in 2015, recently finished up his freshman season with the Murray State Racers of the Ohio Valley Conference.

2016 proved to be another year of outstanding accomplishments in Lewisburg, as the Tiger Football squad finished 12-2 on the season for the second year in a row, were crowned Region 4 /4A champions and a Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state football playoff semifinalist. Marshall County made its seventh straight playoff appearance and 32nd in school history as the Tigers now hold an all-time playoff mark of 25 wins and 31 losses, including a state title and undefeated season in 1984. Multiple Tigers earned individual recognition as is expected during a season as successful as the one Marshall County experienced.

The Forrest Rockets are getting closer to claiming some wins, witnessed by an inspired performance at MTCS Tuesday night where they suffered a tough 64-61 loss to the Cougars (5-1, 2-0). "I am very, very proud of the effort from the guys Tuesday night at a very tough place to play," Forrest coach Randy Toombs said. "We are inching our way to that line where we either need to start winning or the season is going to get away from us. The boys are so much fun to watch and I'm sure the wins are going to start coming soon."

The red-hot Forrest Lady Rockets traveled to Murfreesboro Tuesday night to take on the MTCS Lady Cougars and the contest was an early season thriller with Chapel Hill coming away with a hard-earned 52-45 win. The victory was the eighth win in a row for Forrest (8-1, 2-0) and it was especially sweet after having lost all three games to the Lady Cougars (2-4, 0-2) last season, including a loss in the District 9A semifinals.

The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs had revenge on the minds Tuesday night when Hampshire, who upset Cornersville 59-51 last year in the district tournament, traveled to southern Marshall County in the district opener for both squads. The Lady Hawks won just two regular season games in 2015-16 and knocked Santa Fe out of district tournament before beating Cornersville, sending the Lady Bulldogs to the consolation game instead of the championship which ultimately lead to a first round region loss to Perry County.

The Bulldogs only win during the 2015-16 campaign came from a four-point home win over Hampshire in mid-January and when the two winless teams met up again at the same place just shy of 11 months later, a much needed win was on the line in the district opener. A much more disciplined Bulldog squad took the court on Tuesday night and by the time the final horn sounded, Cornersville (1-4, 1-0) had its first win of the season by beating the Hawks (0-6, 0-1) convincingly 68-28.

Front row from left are, Region 4A champion Rockets Javier Rios (Kicker, All-Region 1st team)) Luke Cunningham (WR/DB, Honorable Mention), Anthony Kritz (DB/WR, All-Region 1st Team) Mac Ridley (OL, Honorable Mention) and Dylan Pendley (WR/DB, Honorable mention). ...

Bottom row from left are, Class A Region 4 honorable mention players Devin Baus (OL/DL), Dakota Polk (DB), Blake Pickett (DB) and Brice Dunkleman (DL/OL). Top from left are, All-Region and Special Teams Player of the Year Eli Woodard (RB, QB, KR) and All-Region players Trenten Warren (RB, LB), Cameron Whittaker (RB, DB, KR), Brock Powers (OL/DL) and CJ Coble (OL/DL)...

Girls Marshall County 16 4 13 8 - 41 Shelbyville Central 14 19 22 20 - 75 Marshall County (41): Zachuriya O'Neal 19, Leah Hollingsworth 6, Demariae Ingram 5, Angelica Bishop 4, Hannah Davis 4, Alli Hobbs 2, Jesse Bishop 1...