MHS basketball: Smith-Cotton disposes of Owls

Marshall boys' basketball coach Cody Leonard has lamented the tragic quarter through which his team has seemed to suffer during its losses this season.

On Monday, that stretch was the second period, when the Owls were out-gunned by Smith-Cotton, 18-5, during a 53-40 non-conference home loss to close out December.

Marshall got out of the gate well, junior Demetric Poindexter drained a pair of three-pointers and senior Nathan Cato got inside for an 8-2 lead. However, the Tigers scored the last eight points of the opening period, junior Spencer White hitting two outside jumpers.

During the second frame, senior Sam Brummet knocked down three straight bombs to give Smith-Cotton a 16-point halftime lead.

The Owls chipped into the deficit during the third quarter, freshman Alex Maupin striking twice from outside the arc and junior Cedrick Browder making a three and two free throws.

That narrowed the Tigers' lead to 11 points heading into the fourth period, but Marshall only managed eight points the rest of the way.

Brummet finished with 18 points and senior Kendal Brown scored 15, seven in the first quarter, for Smith-Cotton (5-3) -- which claimed third place the Dairy Queen/Red Cross Pharmacy Shoot-out at Marshall earlier this month.

Browder topped the Owls (2-6) with nine points, three assists and two steals.

Marshall will return to action Jan. 2 by hosting Kearney in a non-conference contest.