The Marshall County Tigers were looking to advance to the District 12-AA Tournament title game as they hosted their namesakes from Murfreesboro Central Magnet School (MCM) on a pleasant Tuesday evening after a week of Artic weather had postponed action in the tournament.

The Tigers began the game almost as cold as last week’s weather, but fought back to take a third quarter lead before Central Magnet went on a late run to knock off MCHS 54-37.

“We got behind the eight-ball early and missed some short-range easy shots,” MCHS coach Lavon King said. “You could say we had the jitters, but it is hard to beat a team three times in a season.”

“It’s one of those things where you hope that we can learn from our mistakes and come out and play a good game Thursday night.”

Jayden Hart scored 10 points and Bryson Hughes added nine to lead the Tigers in the scoring column.

MCHS controlled the tip, but could not convert on their first shot attempt and Central could no better.

Jayden Hernandez put Central on the board with a 3-pointer and then added a short jumper from just outside the free throw line to put MCM in front, 5-0.

Gage Swanson pushed the lead out to seven points when he converted two free-throws.

Devante Davis broke the ice for the Tigers with a free throw, but with three minutes left in the first quarter, MCHS was behind 9-1.

MCHS made a short run as Hart scored four points down low and Omarion Alred nailed a jumper, but at the end of the first quarter the Tigers still trailed 14-7.

MCHS could only add free throws by Hughes and Silas Hurt to open the second quarter before Hughes nailed a 3-pointer and Hart scored another basket for MCHS.

Central, playing an aggressive defense, managed to hold on to their seven-point lead and increased it to nine points when Hernandez dropped in a 12-footer as the horn sounded with MCM holding the lead at 25-16.

The third quarter saw MCHS come out snarling and clawing as they began to cut into the Central lead.

Hurt scored with 3:45 left in the third quarter to cut the Central lead to one point and after a basket by Mason Perry, Hughes tied it at 27-27 with a 3-pointer from the top of three-point arc.

Alred nailed a jumper from 15 feet to put MCHS in the lead for the first time at 29-27.

Avery Lambert had nine points in the quarter as MCM rallied and went on an 11-point run to put a damper on MCHS’ effort.

The Tigers trailed by 11 points entering the fourth quarter and Central began to slow their play with the double digit lead to consume time as MCHS could only chase the ball with time ticking away and were forced to foul.

MCM converted 4-of-6 free throws and as the final seconds ticked away, MCHS could only watch as Central claimed a trip to the district finals to face Community.

MCHS hosts Forrest on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the District 12-AA consolation game at the Dottie Kelso Memorial Gymnasium in Lewisburg while Murfreesboro Central Magnet (12-10) travels to Community (18-7).

Forrest (3-19) and Marshall County (14-7) will both be on the road Saturday night for the first round of the Region 6-AA Tournament.

Central Magnet 14 11 13 16-54

Marshall County 7 9 13 8- 37

MCM (54): Avery Lambert 14, Jayden Hernandez 14, Elijah Conard 9, Corey Grayson 8, Mason Brown 4, Gage Swanson 3, Kyle Mosserly 2.

Three-Point Goals (2): Hernandez, Conard.

Free Throws (10-for-16): Lambert 4-for-4, Hernandez 3-for-4, Swanson 3-for-4, Perry 0-for-2, Grayson 0-for-2.

MCHS (37): Jayden Hart 10, Bryson Hughes 9, Silas Hurt 7, Devonte Davis 7, Omarion Alred 4.

Three-Point Goals (2): Hughes 2.

Free Throws (7-12): Alred 2-for-2, Davis 3-for-6, Hurt 1-for-2, Hughes 1-for-2.

Halftime Score: Murfreesboro Central Magnet 25, MCHS 16.