FORNEY — Senior David Marler had 20 points and Landon Marshall scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half as Mabank overcame a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Wills Point 49-48 in a Class 3A Region II area playoff at Forney High School.
Mabank (25-9) advances to face Pleasant Grove at a site not yet determined.
Wills Point (26-9) jumped all over the Panthers in the first quarter, leading 15-8 behind the senior duo of Darryn York and Micky Morris. Morris led the Tigers with 18 points and 10 rebounds while York chipped in 17.
Marler single-handedly carried Mabank to a 25-25 halftime tie by scoring all 14 Panthers points in the second quarter, hitting all nine of his shots (five field goals, four free throws).
The Tigers jumped out to an early second half lead and led by as many as seven (43-36) with 6:08 remaining in the fourth quarter when Mabank went on a 13-2 run and took its first second-half lead on Marshall’s driving layup with 1:59 remaining.
The Tigers had one last attempt at a game-winner but sophomore Jah Golden, who hadn’t attempted a shot all game, missed from 15 feet out at the buzzer.
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Class 3A Area Playoff
At Forney High School
Mabank 49, Wills Point 48
Wills Point 15 10 13 10 — 48
Mabank 11 14 11 13 — 49
WILLS POINT — Micky Morris, 18; Darryn York, 17; Hunter Sanford, 10; Jake Rashell, 3.
MABANK — David Marler, 20; Landon Marshall, 14; Garrett Graham, 9; Parker Johannesen, 4; Dalton Burleson, 2.
THREE POINT GOALS — WP: York (2), Sanford (2), Rashell. M: Johannesen, Marshall, Graham.
RECORDS — Wills Point 26-9; Mabank 25-9.
NEXT UP — Mabank vs. Pleasant Grove, TBD.