Dukes look to regroup following holidays

Scottish folklore rebounds with superstitions about the “first footer,” the first visitor to cross your threshold in the New Year. Who the first footer is can foretell whether one experiences luck or misfortune in the coming year.

Suffice it to say, visitors from Sandy Valley did not bode well for the Marlington boys’ basketball team.

After splitting games at the third annual Todd Kalivoda Holiday Showcase, hosted by Toronto High School Dec. 27-28, the Dukes returned home, rang in the New Year and then hosted the Cardinals on Jan. 3 for a nonconference battle. Rather than bringing good luck and cheer, those first footers spelled doom as Sandy Valley opened an 11-point halftime lead on its way to a 72-54 victory.

Wasted in the loss was some sharp shooting by Carter Frank, who nailed four 3-pointers to lead the Dukes with 18 points. Cole Jones recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Brady Denham added 13 points and three assists for Marlington (2-7). Thorn Stenger scored 18 points to pace Sandy Valley (2-8), which snapped a four-game skid.

Before 2025 hit the highway, the Dukes had unfinished business at the Kalivoda Holiday Showcase to address. On Dec. 27, Marlington took on Wheeling Park of West Virginia, and the Patriots came to play, downing the Dukes 73-50.

The second and third quarters proved kryptonite for Marlington as the Dukes were outscored 36-16. One bright spot was the play of Cameron Evanich, who scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, earning the junior game MVP honors. Bryce Jones scored 10 points and recorded two steals, while Matt Baldwin added eight points and three rebounds. JD Williams led all scorers with 15 points and Kolten Whitmire chipped in 14 for Wheeling Park (2-1).

Undaunted, the Dukes returned to action the following day against Columbus Patriot Prep Academy and emerged victorious in a contest that was not as close as the final score of 59-41 would indicate.

Marlington wasted little time jumping to a 21-8 first-quarter advantage. That was only a preview of what followed, as the Dukes went on a 19-1 run in the second quarter to take a 40-9 lead into intermission. A 27-point fourth quarter by the Eagles, long after Marlington had pulled its starters, allowed Patriot Prep to close within 20 points.

Bryce Jones scored 17 points in being named game MVP, while Cole Jones added 15 points and seven rebounds. Denham turned in a strong all-around performance with eight points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists, and Frank contributed eight points and seven rebounds. Daniel King scored 12 points to lead Patriot Prep (2-7).

Girls Basketball

Unlike their male counterparts, the Lady Dukes enjoyed an extended break, as their previous game was Dec. 22 before traveling to Wayne County to face Dalton in a nonconference contest won by the Bulldogs, 49-41.

Dalton took a 22-16 lead into intermission and extended that margin to 10 at 30-20 midway through the third quarter. The Lady Dukes, however, were not ready to go quietly as Caitlin Imhoff’s basket and free throw sparked a run that cut the deficit to four at 30-26 with two minutes remaining in the period.

Momentum proved fleeting, as the Bulldogs answered with seven straight points to open the fourth quarter and restore an 11-point cushion. Dalton (8-3) was never threatened after that, building a 47-34 lead before Marlington scored seven of the final nine points to close within eight.

With the loss, Marlington fell to 4-6. Individual statistics were not available.