The Marshall County Tigers, winners of 10 of their last 11 games and sitting atop the District 12-AA standings, traveled to the ‘Boro to take on Murfreesboro Central Magnet School, completing Tuesday night’s doubleheader.

The Tigers began the game with their athleticism on display and ended the game with that same intensity as they turned back Central Magnet 52-46.

“This team steps up when they need to,” MCHS coach Lavon King said. “Central is a good defensive team and they made us work for everything we got.”

“With the win we control our own destiny. It’s a big game Friday night with Community, win and we win the district.”

Kaamil Hazel scored 14 points, Bryson Hughes had 11 points, Devante Davis was also in double figures with 10 points, and Omarion Alred added two late clutch baskets for the Tigers.

Although MCHS started fast, Central ramped up their intensity and the score was tied 8-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw Jayden Hernandez score seven points for Central, but Hazel countered with two 3-pointers and Carson Boyd sank one of his own.

Both teams can get up and down the court and the second quarter showed the competition.

MCHS led 25-24 at halftime and the larger crowds now attending per Governor Lee’s mandate, on both sides of the gym were enjoying the display of aggressive and fast-paced play.

The third quarter saw the action by both teams slow as defensive pressure on both sides clamped down on the scoring.

MCHS was led by Hughes, scoring five points and they were only points in the quarter for the Tigers.

Elijah Conard led Central with five points as they took a three-point lead, 33-30 into the fourth quarter.

The action began to heat up.

Hart’s basket with 5:53 left on the clock cut into the Central lead to 36-32.

Central went on a run and at the 4:20 mark, the lead was 10 points.

Hazel made a huge shot for MCHS as he sank a long 3-pointer to cut the lead to seven points, 42-35 at the 3:17 mark of the final quarter.

Davis cut the lead to five points on a steal and breakaway and Hazel sliced it to three with a basket with 1:35 left in the game.

“We played hard, everybody stepped up at the end, Omarion made some big shots, I made free throws, Bryson made free throws,” Davis said. “Everybody came together at the end.”

Alred scored on a put-back via a soft five-footer, cutting the lead to one point at 42-41 with 1:31 left in the game.

Alred struck again as he sank another basket, was fouled and made the free-throw to put MCHS in the lead, 44-42 with one minute remaining in the contest.

“We could have played better in the first half, but we came together at the end,” Alred said.

Asked how he felt after making the clutch baskets at the end, Alred said, “It felt good!”

Alred sank a basket with 43.4 seconds left and as the time ticked away, Hughes sank four free-throws to put the game away.

Alred, Hughes, and Davis stood up and as coach King said, “Refused to lose.”

District 12-AA Standings

Marshall County (14-5, 8-1)

Community (16-7, 7-2)

Nolensville (11-9, 4-3)

MCM (10-9, 4-4)

Giles County (2-11, 2-6)

Forrest (2-17, 0-9)

MCHS 8 17 5 22 - 52

MCM 8 16 9 13-46

MCHS (52): Kaamil Hazel 14, Bryson Hughes 11, Devonte Davis 10, Omarion Alred 7, Jayden Hart 5, Carson Boyd 5.

Three-Point Goals (6): Hazel 4, Boyd, Hughes.

Free Throws (10-for-13): Hughes 4-for-4, Davis 2-for-4. Boyd 2-for-2, Alred 1-for-1, Hart 1-for-2.

MCM (46) Elijah Conard 14, Jayden Hernandez 11, Kyle Mosserly 7, Gage Swanson 4, Alex Perry 4, Corey Grayson 2, Mac Martin, Avery Lambert 2.

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

Free Throws (6-for-12): Martin 2-for-2, Lambert 2-for-4, Hernandez 1-for-3, Conard 1-for-2, Swanson 0-for-1,

Halftime Score: MCHS 25, Murfreesboro Central Magnet 24.