No. 9 Athens Bible Falls to No. 3 Marion County in Regional Matchup

Young Trojans squad ends exceptional season with loss to fast-paced Red Raiders

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The varsity girls basketball team from Athens Bible School couldn't keep up with the high-powered offense of Marion County in a 63-30 loss at the Northwest Regional tournament. The No. 9 Trojans, led by a roster of mostly underclassmen, saw their otherwise exceptional 24-6 season come to an end against the Class 1A No. 3 Red Raiders.

Why it matters

Athens Bible's young squad, featuring two sophomores and six freshmen, showed promise this season by earning a top-10 ranking and reaching the regional tournament. Though they fell short against a tough Marion County team, the experience will be valuable as the Trojans look to build on this year's success and make a deeper postseason run in the future.

The details

Athens Bible struggled to slow down Marion County's fast-paced attack, which overwhelmed the Trojans' defense and led to the lopsided 63-30 defeat. Despite the loss, Athens Bible will return its entire roster next season, giving the young team an opportunity to grow and potentially challenge for a state championship down the line.

  • The Northwest Regional tournament took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Joe Carver

The head coach of the Athens Bible varsity girls basketball team.

Kylie Murrell

A player for the Athens Bible Trojans, who scored 8 points in the loss.

Vera Aderholt

A player for the Athens Bible Trojans, who scored 7 points in the loss.

Lilly Murrell

A player for the Athens Bible Trojans, who scored 6 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“It's a bright future. These girls are good, and they're so humble that I have to make them believe they are good. That's just who they are. When they start believing more, watch out.”

— Joe Carver, Head Coach

“They bought in to what we wanted to do defensively and here we are in the Sweet 16. It's a big deal for us.”

— Joe Carver, Head Coach

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing loss, Athens Bible's young and talented roster showed promise this season, reaching the regional tournament and proving they can compete at a high level. With the entire team returning next year, the Trojans have a bright future ahead as they look to build on this year's success and make a deeper postseason run.