BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

Martin County High School boys basketball kept up its busy summer schedule over the weekend. Coming off an impressive 6-1 showing at the WKU Team Camp, the Cardinals headed out Friday to the Marshall University Team Camp in Huntington. Then Saturday and Sunday, they were in Shelbyville for the prestigious Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches Titan Rockets Shootout at Martha Layne Collins High School.

Martin County played three games Friday at Marshall, going 2-1 on the day.

The first opponent was a good North Marion (Ohio) team. This game went down to the wire, but NM prevailed 53-49.

The Cardinals faced Ripley (WV) in game 2. Neither team could pull away and the lead changed hands several times. The score was tied at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.

In a thrilling finish, Martin County senior player Brayden McKenzie scored a putback as the final buzzer sounded to give the Cardinals the hard-fought 60-59 victory.

Martin County dominated Bluefield (WV) 76-62 in the third game.

Coach Jason James expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress, emphasizing the valuable learning experience from competing against tough opponents.

“The kids are getting better. The level of competition we are playing in these events is letting us know what things we need to improve on,” Martin County Coach Jason James said. “These camps are not only a great experience for our players, but they give college coaches an opportunity to watch our kids play.”

The following day, the Cardinals arrived in Shelbyville for the KABC Titan Rockets Shootout.

In their first game, Martin County faced Fairfield, the eighth-ranked team in Ohio. Despite trailing for much of the game, the Cardinals mounted a late comeback to secure a thrilling 66-65 victory against the strong opponent.

The second game Saturday proved challenging for the Cardinals, as they went up against this year’s Kentucky Sweet 16 champion Warren Central. Despite their best efforts, Martin County fell short in a closely contested battle 83-76.

Sunday brought another tough matchup for the Cardinals as they faced Wayne County (Ohio). Unfortunately, senior Jacob Sturgell suffered a sprained ankle in the opening play, setting a challenging tone for Martin County. The team battled hard but ultimately suffered a 77-64 defeat.

Coach James acknowledged the demanding schedule the players had endured.

“Our guys have played a lot of games in a short period of time. Fatigue might be setting in,” said James. “This was a great event. You had to be really good to even compete in it, and I’m proud of our kids.”