Marlon McShane transferred to Ridgeway for his senior season with a state title on his mind

Ridgeway’s Marlon McShane seemingly couldn’t miss when the second half started Thursday night.  

He hit his first four shots of the third quarter, scored 11 points and assisted on three more baskets, helping the Roadrunners build a double-digit lead they held on to for a 71-61 win over Power Center Academy on Thursday night.  

"I just had to take over the game,” McShane said, who finished with 23 points. 

McShane, a senior guard, is in his first season with Ridgeway after transferring from Hamilton with a specific goal in mind.  

"I’m trying to go to state,” McShane said of transferring to Ridgeway. “Start with a new team, play with some more better players and play with some players I’ve never played with.” 

Ridgeway (16-5, 6-0 District 16-3A) needed a replacement point guard with Chris Shields graduating last season.  McShane has filled that void. But it wasn’t an easy transition.  

Thursday’s game was the second straight game in which McShane showed he was finally finding his role with the team.  

Early on, Ridgeway coach Curtis Wooten said McShane struggled to fit within the offense. Bad shots were coupled with his not involving his teammates as Wooten would have liked. It was a challenge to see how McShane would both facilitate and score.  

"I think he’s finally found how to input himself within the offense,” Wooten said. “... I think he finally sees how he can be himself but yet still stay within the system.” 

At Hamilton, Wooten said McShane was a “green light” guy, who could rely on his talent to dominate. As part of a roster with state tournament experience, McShane doesn’t have the pressure to do it all. 

It’s why he was able to succeed after halftime, scoring 18 points in the final two quarters. And it's clear Ridgeway isn’t the same when McShane isn’t on the court.  

“(His) energy is coming through the defense, and the defense brings the offense,” Wooten said. “When people see a leader playing hard defense, everybody else is going to come along.” 

“I feel like I impact the game great with my passing, rebounding, all of that,” McShane said. 

When McShane was on the bench in the fourth quarter, Power Center Academy (13-8, 3-4) closed its deficit to eight. When McShane got back on the court, the momentum shifted back to the Roadrunners.  

That’s his impact on a team that brought back several pieces, including Emanuel Allen and Brian Carter Jr., from last year. That team won a game at the state tournament.  

That’s the impact McShane can have in helping the Roadrunners return to Murfreesboro. 

"Now everybody’s in position to play their game,” Wooten said. “That’s what I like with what we’ve got now.” 

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.