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MARSHAL GIRLS CLAIM DECADE – 1990 NO. 1

Marshals claim the decade Beth raises stable crop of regional perfectionists BY CHRIS EVANS SUN SPORTS WRITER DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. - Missy Lee was in second grade when Marshall County coach Howard Beth cut down his first basketball net. Nine seasons later, Lee, now a junior point guard, held the scissors in her hand, and trimmed off the Lady Marshals' 10th straight First Region championship. Since 1981 Beth has built a dynasty on the orange and blue baseball court at Draffenville. Saturday night he remembered each and every one of his regional championships while watching his team take down the nylons after edging Graves County 66-62 in the title game. If any season has been a question mark for Beth's regional powerhouse, this was it. Marshall lost five games this season, including one to Graves County, on its home court. Despite those setbacks and the dynasty-shaking questions that came with them, Beth said that gaining this regional title is no more special than the rest. "They have all felt great. It's the kids who work hard all year to get this far, and every group of kids has been special." "You have to credit Howard Beth. What he has done here at Marshall County over the last 10 years is a feat no one in the state will ever match," Graves County coach David Elliott said. The decade-clinching victory didn't come easy. Lee, who hit a pair of free throws in the bonus to ice the game with eight seconds left, didn't want to be the one to let the streak of championships end. "I couldn't concentrate when I was up there (at the line)," she All Region team These players were named to the First Region all-star team Saturday; Rechelle Cadwell Marshall Christy Henry Graves Lori McCullar Mayfield Michelle Lambert .Carlisle Patricia Jones Lone Oak Kim Oliver Marshall Janet Crawford Graves Tammie Watkins. . . Marshall Andrea Vinyard . Carlisle Janee Heath Graves REX ALEXANDER AWARD Carletta Taylor. Tilghman said after the game while signing autographs for youngsters clad in bright orange sweatshi:*s. "I couldn't think of anything but how mad everyone would be if I missed. "Coach Beth was three games away from winning his 300th and I wasn't going to ruin his decade of regional championships." Lee, who scored nine points in the game, made 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch. The last two gave Marshall a four-point cushion and Graves little time to make it up. "Missy did everything we had to do in the last three minutes of the game," said Beth wearing a perspiration-soaked white shirt. "She gave us the type of effort we needed to win. She stole the ball when we needed it, dished it off when we needed it on the block and hit her foul shots." The lead changed hands throughout the game with neither team able to pull away. Graves held the largest margin, a nine-point lead with just over five minutes left. But that was when Graves County stalwart Christy Henry picked 1 up her See BETH/5C Cr BARKLEY THIELEMAN/The Sun Marshall's Kim Oliver finds a tough obstacle to beat on a layup as Graves County's Melissa Crump defends. 0

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