BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — Martin County Middle School defeated the Fort Gay Vikings 67-62 in boys middle school basketball action Dec. 12 in Warfield.

This would be the last home game for Martin County Middle School Cardinals eighth graders Bryson Osborne, Jarred Haney, Liam Fields, Dylan Yates, Knox Maynard and Asian Burke. Coaches recognized and presented each player with gifts before the start of the game.

The game got off to a slow offensive start with each team scoring single digits in the first quarter. The Cardinals were down 9-8.

The Cardinals caught fire in the second quarter and scored 28 points while holding Fort Gay to only seven. Jarred Haney was hot from the three-point line and knocked down three treys to help Martin County to a 36-16 lead at halftime.

The teams played evenly in the third and scored 17 points each.

Martin County took a 53-33 lead into the fourth.

The Vikings would not go down easy as they fought back to turn this into a game. Fort Gay outscored the Cardinals 29-14 in the final frame, but it would not be enough as the Cardinals hung on for the win. 

Haney led three Cardinals in double digits with 18 points. Aiden Copeland followed with 14 points and Bryson Dials added 13. Rounding out the scoring column, Liam Fields and Dylan Yates contributed eight points each and Knox Maynard, Aiden Burke and Brayden Marcum each scored two.

Evans had a huge night for Fort Gay and led all scorers with 29 points. Wallet added 11 points, Thompson netted nine, Caudill and Lyons each had six and Kincaid scored one point.

The Cardinals moved to 10-6 on the season.