Brantley barrage lifts Marion to state final

Geneika Brantley scored 10 of her game high 24 points in the pivotal third quarter in Saturday’s lower state final against Silver bluff. In doing, she led the Marion High School Lady Swamp Foxes into the Class 2A title game next Saturday in Columbia with a 53-36 victory, and will face Pendleton.

During the opening period the Foxes got off to a quick start and sprinted out to an 11-2 lead with just over two and a half minutes gone by. In the early sequence Brantley hit on a put back for Marion and it was quickly followed up by two put backs by Candace Wright who also scored on a coast-to-coast sprint, giving Marion a 13-4 margin. Khadajah Simpkins hit from three point range for the Bulldogs to cut the Marion lead to six points before Shaquita Taylor dished to Brantley for two points to push the Marion lead to eight. A big three pointer by Simpkins with 26 seconds remaining in the quarter had
cut the Lady Foxes lead to just two points as they led 18-16.

The second period was lacking of much offense as both teams managed jut seven points in the quarter. Coach Leon Sturkey’s team held a 25-23 at the half
As the third period got underway, Silver Bluff managed to tie the game 25-25, when Danielle Bush banked in a runner of the glass. Two straight turnovers by Marion had them looking at their first deficit of the night. However, Brantley took charge for the Foxes. She gave Marion a slim two point advantage on a big rebound and put back. Then answered with consecutive put backs on the offensive boards to stretch the lead to four. Silver Bluff would not score again for the rest of the quarter which ended with Brantley draining a jump shot from the key to give the Foxes a 35-27 advantage heading into the decisive quarter.

The Lady Foxes got going when Wright dished to Brantley for two and Shaquita Taylor got loose in the right corner and connected from three point range to help forge an 11 point margin for the Swamp Foxes. The Bulldogs scored on consecutive trips and also hit from the free throw line to cut the lead back to 6 but a free throw by Wright and a jump shot from Brantley off the glass put Marion 42-34. Jessica Grant hit one from the free throw line and Wright hit on a drive to give Marion a 45-34 lead and for all intents and purposes the ballgame.

After the game an elated Sturkey talked about his team and what it meant to be going to the State Championship. “It is indescribable. At the beginning of the season we set a goal for ourselves. We worked real hard. I am proud of them already for what they have done.”

Marion hit a bump in the road during some stretches of the game but did not waiver. “We were not going to change anything. We did what we have done all year. We have had some ups and downs during the season but you don’t get this far by changing things,” Sturkey said.

The Lady Foxes were led by Brantley’s fourth straight game of 17 or more rebounds. She also had seven block shots. Wright was brilliant in a support with 14 points. Marion’s defense down the stretch shut down the bulldog’s offense allowing just 13 second half points. Forman led Silver Bluff with a team high 16 points.