Mastering Madison: Marshall Surpasses Rival for Second Time

The George C. Marshall High School girls basketball team improved to 16-3 overall and a perfect 11-0 in the Liberty District after defeating rival Madison High School 64-51 at Marshall Tuesday night.

The Lady Statesmen used the strength of a first quarter effort that vaulted Marshall out to a 16-5 lead to force Madison to play catch up for the remainder of the game. During that span, Amanda Brown pick her opponent’s pocket three times, leading to seven points, including two three-pointers.

In the second quarter Nicole Harrison came alive, scoring eight points in the frame, before adding 12 more in the second half. “Nicole was stunning,” Marshall Head Coach Noel Klippenstein said. “She didn’t do it just one way. She was slashing and then when the defenders played off of her she began hitting jumpers.

Kaitlyn Johnson chipped in with 11 points, all scored in the first half before sitting down with foul trouble. The reliable Anna Steg scored 10 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists. Aly Johnson rounded things out with eight points. With just three games remaining, Marshall is in position to run the table in the Liberty District, which hasn’t happened since the school began keeping records and, according to Klippenstein hasn’t happened in the school’s history.

The Statesmen have already defeated all three remaining opponents, including W.T. Woodson High School, though Klippenstein isn’t discounting any of the three contests.

“Langley is still tough,” she said. “And we only beat Fairfax by 53-43 final, though there wasn’t much of a comfort zone in their gym. But the rest of the month is definitely going to be all uphill.” The Statesmen will continue their quest for an undefeated district record Friday at 5:45 p.m. at home against Fairfax before traveling to Woodson Feb. 8.

Marshall prevailed over Woodson at home by a two-point margin earlier this season. Last Friday, the Statesmen breezed past Robert E. Lee High School 62-47 on the strength of Steg’s monster performance. The Marshall forward went off for 30 points while teammate Amanda Brown added 13.

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com