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Kelby Phelps scored 11 consecutive points to start the final period, leading Marshfield to a 62-46 victory over Skyline in the first round of the Blue Division on Wednesday night at McDonald Arena.
Marshfield will play at 2 p.m. Thursday at Hammons Center in the 62nd Annual Blue & Gold Tournament against the winner of the Willow Springs versus Bolivar game.
Skyline and Marshfield were tied at 32 entering the final period when Phelps, a 5-10 senior point guard went off. Phelps hit a 3-point shot to give Marshfield the lead for good on the first possession of the final period. Phelps then drove for a basket and was fouled, converting an old fashioned 3-point play before hitting a pair of free throws after Skyline coach Brandon Shelby was assessed a technical foul. On the next trip down, Phelps hit another 3-point shot to give Marshfield a 43-32 lead.
Phelps wasn’t finished, adding an assist and 5 more free throws in the next 4 minutes of the game as Marshfield pushed the lead to 20 points.
Marshfield improves to 8-2 on the season entering Thursday’s quarterfinal contest against either No. 3 seed Willow Springs or conference rival Bolivar. Marshfield lost 75-71 at Willow Springs on Dec. 11, and will be looking for revenge if that is the Jays opponent..
Phelps finished with game with 19 points, 17 in the final period, with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.
Justin Jones, a 6-0 senior guard, led the Jays scoring with 21 points, hitting 9-of-14 field goals in the game with 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and a blocked shot. Justin Jones hit his last 6 field goal tries in the game as Marshfield made 7-of-10 field goals in the final period.
Skyline was led by 6-4 junior post Cameron Yates with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, an assist and a blocked shot. Yates hit 8-of-13 field goals in the game.
Marshfield jumped on top 15-12 after one period as senior Justin Drane scored 7 points to lead the Jays in that opening stanza. Drane finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Skyline ralled to take a 23-22 lead by intermission with a pair of long field goals from Brice Reed in the final seconds of the first half. Marshfield made only 3-of-14 field goals in the second period.
Nathan VanDiggelen finished with 4 points, 2 assists, a steal and a rebound for Marshfield.
Alex Bartow added 3 points, 3 rebounds and an assist to the winning attack.
Charlie Williams, a 6-5 junior post, was a force under the basket, posting 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocked shots for the Jays, scoring 2 points in the game.
Cameron Keenan also scored 2 points for Marshfield, with 2 assists and a rebound.
Jason Young added 2 points and a steal and Derek Welch handed out an assist for the winners.
In other Blue Division games, second seed Republic beat Camdenton, Buffalo upset seventh seed Stoutland 44-39, 4th seed Mount Vernon beat West Plains 59-47, 5th seed Willard topped Pleasant Hope 62-36, top seed Kickapoo beat Aurora 70-56, and Spokane knocked off 8th seed Mansfield 49-40.
If Marshfield wins Thursday, the 6th seed Jays would play the Republic versus Buffalo winner at 5:30 p.m. in the seminfinals of the Blue Division on Friday, also at Hammons Center on the Missouri State University campus.
