Athens High School Arena on Friday, February 28, 2025 –
In a game which serves as both the 2025 Texas UIl Region III Basketball Class 2A Finals, and the State Quarterfinals, the Shelbyville Dragons fell to the Marlin Bulldogs by a 60-54 score in overtime. The loss ends the Shelbyville season with them holding a 28-4 record. Marlin has a 24-4 mark and will move on to face Hearne (28-5) next week in San Antonio in the State Semifinals. Hearne defeated Port Aransas 52-47.
Shelbyville held an early 9-7 lead midway through the first quarter and they went into the second stanza ahead 19-13. The second frame saw the SHS lead narrow down to 23-22 points at the 4-minute mark and by the halftime buzzer the Bulldogs had tied the game at 27-27.
The game was tied 33-33 halfway through the third period and Marlin held a slim 39-38 advantage at the end of the third frame. Marlin led most of the final period but with less than 2 minutes remaining senior Tanor Doggett gave the Dragons a narrow 48-47 advantage with a 3-point bucket launched near the Dragons sideline. The Bulldogs tied the game with a free throw with 38 seconds remaining and the game ended tied at 49-49 points at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Dragons and Bulldogs headed to a 4-minute overtime period where Marlin outpaced Shelbyville 10-5 points to earn the win. Last Tuesday saw Shelbyville outlast Normangee in a 93-90 5-overtime Region III Semifinal. So this was the sixth overtime period for SHS in 4 days.
The Dragons were led by DJ Barnes who scored 21 points, teammates Ja’Davian Mathis scored 12 and Tanor Doggett made 10. Marlin was led by Aarkin Smith-Kelly with 17, Jaidan Womack scored 15.
