Marshall shines for Colonials
YORK RUN – Dan Andria knew this was going to happen.
Marc Marshall finally proved him right. Marshall not only threw down the first slam dunk of his career, he later added a couple more on his way to a 15-point, 15-rebound effort as Albert Gallatin topped visiting Latrobe, 73-60, in Section 1-AAAA action Friday night.
Marshall was one of five Colonials to reach double figures, with 6-foot-8 Jawaan Alston leading the way with 16 points and pair of dunks. Alston also pulled down 15 rebounds and registered eight blocks, as Albert Gallatin improved to 11-5 overall and more importantly, 5-3 in Section 1-AAAA.
With Franklin Regional losing Friday and Hempfield winning, four teams, including Albert Gallatin and Latrobe, are tied for second place in Section 1-AAAA behind Norwin.
Albert Gallatin raced out to a 22-7 lead after one quarter and led 40-19 at the half before Latrobe’s Jeff Yunetz caught fire in the third quarter and scored 15 points to pull the Wildcats back to within 12 with eight minutes to go.
Latrobe (10-7, 5-3) eventually got to within seven points, 56-49, after Yunetz nailed his fifth trey of the game with 6:44 to play, but Albert Gallatin scored 12 of the next 15 points and held on the rest of the way.
Nate Turner, who finished with 15 points and a team-high five assists, started the surge with a putback before Alston hit two free throws to make it 60-49.
Following a goaltending call on Albert Gallatin, Marshall gathered in a long rebound, took two steps and authoritatively threw down a left-handed jam – Marshall’s right-handed – to make it 62-51.
After Aaron Cromwell picked up two of his 13 points at the foul line, Marshall came away with a steal and took it to the basket himself, finishing the play with his third dunk.
“Marc is always a steady player, but I’ve been waiting all season for him to explode,” Andria said. “And boy did he ever tonight.”
Marshall’s first slam came early in the third quarter and came off a great no-look outlet pass from Alston on a play that started with a Turner steal.
The dunk was the senior forward’s first of his career.
“You look for dunks, but if you try to force them, they don’t happen,” Marshall said. “I was really excited because of the crowd and I had a lot of spring in my step.”
Friday’s victory also served as payback for an earlier defeat at Latrobe, 82-58, a game that so far is Albert Gallatin’s worse loss of the season.
In that game, the Colonials were playing without Alston, who had to sit out after receiving two technical fouls the game before against North Catholic, and Turner, who was still hobbled by an injury that happened during football season.
“We really didn’t match up well with them in the first game, and then to have Alston and Turner in there, that just makes it worse,” said Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel. “When we came back in the third quarter, that’s the style we need to play. But I have to give Danny (Andria) a lot of credit. They were able to get the ball out (of their end) and get it down, and they stopped us from getting good looks at the basket, especially in the first half. It was because of their defense that we couldn’t get our offense going.”
Albert Gallatin held a 40-14 edge in rebounding, including 18-1 in the first quarter.
On the Colonials’ first two possessions, they totaled seven offensive boards.
“I told the guys that’s because we can’t make a lay-up,” Andria joked.