Even though the Columbus International Lions scored an imposing 72 points on Wednesday, the Marion-Franklin Red Devils still came out on top. Marion-Franklin snuck past Columbus International with a 77-72 win. The win made it back-to-back wins for Marion-Franklin.
Marion-Franklin's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Neko Tuff led the charge by scoring 19 points along with five assists and five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Terry Black, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Several Lions players turned in solid performances, despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was KJ Jones, who dropped a double-double on 38 points and 14 rebounds. That was a full 52.8% of Columbus International's points, marking the fifth time in a row he's earned more than a third of the team's points. Pharoahe Zaire was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Marion-Franklin now has a winning record of 7-6. As for Columbus International, they have been struggling recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-8 record this season.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Marion-Franklin will take on Independence at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Independence is still on the hunt for that elusive first 'W'. As for Columbus International, their homestand continues as they prepare to take on Northland at 7:00 p.m. on January 22nd. Northland is looking to tack on another W to their three-game streak on the road.
