BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Basketball practice officially begins Saturday with Martin County High School coaches holding conditioning and tryouts.

Coach Robin Newsome is again at the helm for the Lady Cards this season. 

“I’m excited to get going,” Newsome said. “I’m looking forward to getting in the gym and seeing what this team can be.”

The team is coming off a perfect 8-0 district record and championship. The Lady Cards’ 23-7 season took them to the second round of the 15th Region tournament. 

“The kids have been working hard in the weight room,” said Newsome. “We expect to spend a lot of time on conditioning when practice starts up this week.”

The men’s squad is going into this season as the defending 57th District champion. The Cardinals went 24-8 last season and lost to eventual 15th Region champ Pikeville in the regional tournament. 

The team has big shoes to fill with the loss of 15th Region Player of the Year Brady Dingess.

Coach Jason “JJ” James is still expecting a big season for the Cards.

“I’m really excited about this team,” James said. “We are going to be younger, and it’s going to take some time, but I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at some of our young talent.”

Fans can catch the first glimpse of both Cardinal teams in preseason action Nov. 26 in the highly touted Zip Zone Express Tip-Off Classic at Martin County High School.

Nov. 28 is the KHSAA-allowed date for a team’s first formal contest.

The coaches are still adding games to their 2022-2023 season schedules.

The Lady Cards will open the season Nov. 28 at home against Betsy Layne.

The Cardinals open the season Nov. 29 at Russell.

District tournament matchups start Feb. 20, 2023. State tournament action begins March 8, 2023, for the girls and March 15, 2023, for the boys.