Marshall's all-around effort keeps Axemen perfect in MWL.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

On the verge of another Midwestern League title, South Eugene is rounding into playoff form.

The fourth-ranked Axemen were nearly perfect in the fourth quarter as they held off Churchill 53-45 Friday night in boys basketball at Churchill High School. South Eugene was 6-for-6 from the field and scored on all nine possessions in the final period to defeat the Lancers.

"That's the way it's going to have to be for us to get to where we want to go," South Eugene coach Dave Hancock said. "We have to play with poise down the stretch against good teams and make our free throws. Finish games off.

"We're getting to the point in the season where there are no bad teams, and everyone is going to play the game out."

South Eugene improved to 12-0 in league and has a 2 1/2 -game lead over second-place North Eugene (10-3) with four games remaining. The Axemen can clinch at least a share of the league title with a win over Springfield on Tuesday.

South Eugene led 36-33 entering the fourth quarter when Trenton Newton-Jones opened the period with a layup. The teams traded baskets until Cameron Marshall scored inside to put the Axemen ahead 44-40.

South got a defensive stop and then Newton-Jones made a free throw and Marshall added two more free throws to put the Axemen ahead 47-40 with 2:06 remaining.

"They scored about four times in a row and then we got one stop, and we scored on the other end," Marshall said. "That helped us seal it."

Churchill closed within 47-43 on a three-pointer by Blake Harrison, but then Marshall assisted on back-to-back baskets and made a steal that led to his final two free throws.

Marshall finished with a game-high 19 points, six rebounds and six assists.

"Cam made good decisions with the ball," Hancock said. "He has really stepped up his play."

Churchill led 16-14 in the second quarter before Marshall scored eight straight points to give South a lead it would not relinquish.

"When we play Churchill, we focus on attacking because of their pressure defense," Marshall said. "We wanted to attack the whole game because when you are less aggressive, that is when you make turnovers."

Newton-Jones scored his 15 points all in the second half and had 10 of South's 12 points in the third quarter.

"I knew we needed a spark in the third quarter, that is our championship quarter," Newton-Jones said. "We got some isolations to free me up one-on-one and I was able to finish."

Jamie Stimac came of the bench to add seven points for South, which shot 20-for-35 from the field.

Colin Inglis made five three-pointers to lead Churchill with 17 points. Andrew Schumacher added 11 points and five rebounds for the Lancers, who remain in third place at 8-5.

In other MWL games

North Eugene 58, Springfield 51: Andrew Miller had 12 points and Drew Laird and Zack Edwards added 10 apiece to lead the second-place Highlanders.

North Eugene enjoyed a 31-20 lead at halftime but the visiting Millers closed to within 53-49 with three minutes left in the game.

Trevor Thurn scored 21 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and Cody Pryce added 10 for Springfield.

Marshfield 68, Lebanon 53: Norm Holcombe scored 20 points and Riley Stacey added 10 to lead the visiting Pirates.

Marshfield, which led by one at the break, outscored the Warriors 39-25 in the second half.

Alex Bourne had 15 points to lead Lebanon.

Thurston 60, Willamette 55: Mark Maire scored 14 points and Michael Akins added 10 to lead the host Colts.

Thurston led 37-26 at halftime and then made six of eight free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off a Wolverines' comeback bid.

Jared Hughes scored 17 points and David Calef and Cody Parker added 12 apiece to lead Willamette.