Potters, Dukes too much for Warriors in early season matchups

By Dan Ries

Sports Reporter

Tied 20-all at halftime, the Marlington Dukes’ defense held the Carrollton Warriors  boys basketball team to just 13 points the rest of the way, defeating the Warriors 47-33  Dec. 6 at Carrollton. It was the Eastern Buckeye Conference opener for both teams.

Marlington jumped out to an early 4-1 before a three by Braylen Murphy tied things up at four. The lead changed seven times, before two baskets by Jayven Johnson and one by Murphy gave the Warriors a 15-11 first quarter advantage.

The Dukes would score the first 7 points in the second to take an 18-15 lead at the 5:28 mark. The Warriors held the Dukes to just one basket the rest of the quarter, but they would only score five of their own to head to halftime knotted at 20-20.

Marlington started the second half with a 9-0 run before Carrollton made a basket around the five-minute mark.  The Dukes began to slow the pace, baiting the Warriors into opening the lane and allowing the larger Duke players access, maintaining their nine point third quarter lead 36-27, and increasing their advantage in the fourth.

Carrollton pulled within six points with 6:09 left in the game at 36-30, but the Dukes finished the game with an 11-3 run and the 47-33 victory.

Carrollton Head Coach Mike Aukerman talked about his team’s effort after the game.

 “On Tuesday (East Liverpool), we played hard, played competitive. On Tuesday, we deserved to win. Marlington outrebounded us. They got every loose ball. The simple things win basketball games. We just didn’t do it today. They did. I don’t care about the shots. We just have to do the simple things.”

Murphy led the Warriors with 14 points, including two three-point baskets. Jayven Johnson added eight. Carrollton made just 12 field goals while the Dukes hit 19 shots. 

Things could have been worse for the Warriors as Marlington was just 7-19 from the foul line. Carrollton finished 6-11 in free throws. Marlington outrebounded the Warriors 36-22. Carrollton committed more fouls 16-10.

The junior varsity team won 33-32 with a basket at the buzzer.

CARROLLTON vs

EAST LIVERPOOL

The Warriors opened the season with a visit to East Liverpool Dec 3 and lost an overtime thriller 71-69 when Jayven Johnson’s shot fell off the rim. 

Murphy had a career high, scoring 26 points, including six 3-pointers, and Andrew Birong picked up his first double-double of the year with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Carrollton held a slim 20-19 lead after the first quarter. The Potters would respond with 19-7 second quarter to take an 11-point lead into halftime. The visitors battled back in the third to get within five points at 53-48.  Two threes by Murphy and a basket by Birong in the final minutes sent the game to overtime tied at 59-59 each. The Potters won the overtime 12-10.

Jayven Johnson scored 14 points and Everett Brooks added nine, all on three pointers. 

Carrollton is 0-2, 0-1 on the season.