A tough Raider zone combined with cold shooting plagued the Statesmen early and ultimately proved their undoing as Stuart handed Marshall its first loss of the 2007-08 season, 55-37.

Juniors William Ford and Domininique Kosh each scored 14 points to lead J.E.B. Stuart (3-2) in the win, while junior center Raymond Watson and sophomore guard Antonio Harris joined them in double figures with 13 and 10 points respectively. However it was the Raiders’ defensive present that spelled the Statesmen’s undoing.

Marshall (4-1) managed a mere two points in the opening quarter, immediately falling behind by nine points after the first eight minutes.

“I don’t think I have ever experienced being on the number ‘0’ for that long,” Marshall Head Coach Bobby Forst said. “We expected their zone, but struggled to hit shots early and then it became contagious. We never got into a rhythm and I credit Stuart for not allowing us to get in a rhythm.”

The loss to Stuart was the first blemish on Marshall’s season and derailed the momentum garnered from an 82-80 Statesmen win over Fairfax last Friday, Dec. 14.

“Fairfax game just came down to making a few key stops at the right time and hitting a few big shots,” Forst said. “Fairfax played really tough and would not give up all night.”

Sophomore Stanley Watts scored a team-high 25 for Marshall, including nine of 10 from the foul line, where the Statesmen converted 19 of 24 chances as a team.

Daniel Blakely and Nate Whittington each scored 12 points for Marshall in their team’s highest-scoring game of the season.

Kabel Moody paced Fairfax (1-4) with 21 points, while Chris Regensburg added 14.

Marshall next takes the court against rival Madison High School at home on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., marking the start of Liberty District competition. The Statesmen then enjoy a six-day break for the holidays before resuming play Dec. 27 in the McLean Holiday Tournament.A tough Raider zone combined with cold shooting plagued the Statesmen early and ultimately proved their undoing as Stuart handed Marshall its first loss of the 2007-08 season, 55-37.

Juniors William Ford and Domininique Kosh each scored 14 points to lead J.E.B. Stuart (3-2) in the win, while junior center Raymond Watson and sophomore guard Antonio Harris joined them in double figures with 13 and 10 points respectively. However it was the Raiders’ defensive present that spelled the Statesmen’s undoing.

Marshall (4-1) managed a mere two points in the opening quarter, immediately falling behind by nine points after the first eight minutes.

“I don’t think I have ever experienced being on the number ‘0’ for that long,” Marshall Head Coach Bobby Forst said. “We expected their zone, but struggled to hit shots early and then it became contagious. We never got into a rhythm and I credit Stuart for not allowing us to get in a rhythm.”

The loss to Stuart was the first blemish on Marshall’s season and derailed the momentum garnered from an 82-80 Statesmen win over Fairfax last Friday, Dec. 14.

“Fairfax game just came down to making a few key stops at the right time and hitting a few big shots,” Forst said. “Fairfax played really tough and would not give up all night.”

Sophomore Stanley Watts scored a team-high 25 for Marshall, including nine of 10 from the foul line, where the Statesmen converted 19 of 24 chances as a team.

Daniel Blakely and Nate Whittington each scored 12 points for Marshall in their team’s highest-scoring game of the season.

Kabel Moody paced Fairfax (1-4) with 21 points, while Chris Regensburg added 14.

Marshall next takes the court against rival Madison High School at home on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., marking the start of Liberty District competition. The Statesmen then enjoy a six-day break for the holidays before resuming play Dec. 27 in the McLean Holiday Tournament.