MARIETTA, OH -- The Redhawks overcame a 35-16 first half deficit to make it a game at tonight's Shrine Tournament. La Roche evened it at 78-78 for the first time since the opening minute, but Marietta gained the edge down the stretch and held on for the for 91-87 victory. The Redhawks will play Wesley tomorrow at 5pm.
RayQuan Phifer finished with a team-high 25 points to go along with 6 rebounds. Phifer is now just one point shy of 1000 career points.
Tyler Frederick owned the boards, pulling down 13 rebounds and nearly outrebounding Marietta on the offensive glass. Frederick scored 17 points to register a double-double.
Darius Lawrence (13 points) and Zach Gould (11 points) each reached double-figures.
The Redhawks used the three to outscore Marietta by eight points over the final seven minutes of the first half. Phifer made things difficult for the Pioneers by sinking a pair of three-pointers. Gould and Lawrence drained threes late in the first half while Darrell Barron hit a pair of jumpers. It looked like La Roche would enter the locker room trailing by eight, but Marietta hit a three at the buzzer for a 51-40 halftime lead.
The Redhawks chipped away at Marietta's lead and a Ryan Norkus three-pointer cut it to one with 9:50 left. The Pioneers opened the lead back to six, but La Roche regrouped and Phifer tied it for the first time at 78-78. Marietta followed with a layup and a pair of free throws, holding on for the four point victory.
The Redhawks were excellent in the second half. They outrebounded and outshot Marietta, and won the turnover battle in the second half.
La Roche held a 34-31 edge on the boards for the game. They also held an edge in field goals and three-pointers. The difference came at the foul line where Marietta hit 32 of 36 free throws to La Roche's 19 of 24.