BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Another highly competitive field will converge on the Martin County High School gymnasium in the 2023 Zip Zone Express Tip Off Classic. Some of the state’s premier teams and players are in the lineup for the Nov. 25 basketball extravaganza.
Martin County coach Jason James is excited about this year’s lineup: Lyon County, Butler County, Evangel Christian, Great Crossing, Martin County, Ashland, Pike Central, Lawrence County, Chapmanville, Tug Valley, Floyd Central and Boyd County.
“We have another great field, may be one of the best ever,” James said. “We have the best players in the state and some of the top teams. It will be exciting to witness the state’s all-time leading scorer, Travis Perry, in action again. We have some fantastic matchups lined up, guaranteeing a day filled with great basketball.”
Travis Perry of Lyon County will return to the Classic for the second year in a row. Perry made headlines last year by becoming the leading scorer in Kentucky boys’ basketball history during the Sweet 16, surpassing King Kelly Coleman’s record. Perry is unquestionably one of the most prolific scorers in Kentucky basketball history. He has secured numerous college offers, including Cincinnati, Michigan, Ole Miss and Purdue, with Kentucky closely monitoring his progress. Lyon County made it to the state semifinals last season, narrowly losing to George Rogers Clark, 60-57.
Evangel Christian returns six of their top seven players, including the leading scorer Christian Doerr, who averaged an impressive 18.5 points per game last season, and Kyran Tilley, who contributed 16.1 points per game.
Malachi Moreno of Great Crossing is generating significant buzz with seven Division I scholarship offers, including schools like Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio State and Purdue. The 6-foot-11 center was outstanding in his freshman season, averaging 11.9 points on a remarkable 58.1% shooting and securing 12 rebounds per game. 247Sports ranks Moreno 45th overall talent in the 2025 class and the 10th-best center prospect.
Ty Price from Butler County is another standout player, averaging an impressive 31 points per game. His skills have already earned him offers from Mississippi State and Texas A&M.
Xander Carter, representing Ashland Blazer, averaged 22 points per game and has received offers from Liberty and Eastern Kentucky. Ashland made it to the Sweet 16 last year but was eliminated in the second round.
Pike Central’s lineup gets strength from the return of Jaylan Rigdon and Jaden Stewart, two promising players who will attract college attention.
Chapmanville enters the competition as the reigning West Virginia Class 2A State champion, bringing their winning momentum from the previous season.
Tug Valley coach Garland “Rabbit” Thompson only lost two seniors to graduation. His squad made it to the West Virginia Class A state semifinals and finished last season with a 23-4.
Tug Valley welcomes back 6-foot-2 wing man Joey Gollihue, who averaged more than 17 points per game last season. Gollihue made the Class A All-State First Team. Junior guard Ashton Davis also returns. Davis averaged 14 points per game and earned All-State Honorable Mention last season. Sophomore point guard Braydun Ferris, also named All-State Honorable Mention, is back this season.
15th Region champion Martin County comes off a remarkable 2022-2023 season that graduated only one senior. Coach James looks forward to the return of key seniors, including Luke Hale, who averaged an impressive 20 points per game, Brayden McKenzie, Dray Duff, Jacob Sturgell and Blake Maynard.
Peyton Davis and Devan Maynard also return for the Cardinals. Davis suffered a broken ankle, missing much of the summer season, but has worked hard to make it back.
In the women’s category, the Lady Cards welcome back one of the state’s top 20 scorers, senior Laken Williams. She averaged 20 points per game last season. Williams has offers from West Virginia Tech, Shawnee State and Kentucky Christian University.
The Lady Cards also return senior Katie Marcum, known for her 14 double-doubles last season and who has an offer from Alice Lloyd; Alyssa Allen, who boasts offers from KCU, Beacon College, Alice Lloyd and Wooster; senior Kennadi Mollette; junior Candace Spaulding; and promising sophomores Brooke Marcum, Chloe May and Sophie Harless.
A notable new addition to this year’s Lady Cards roster is 6-foot-4 eighth-grader Maci Maynard.
Martin County girls coach Robin Newsome touted the Zip Zone Express Classic.
“The Zip Zone is the top preseason event in the state,” Newsome said. “No one comes even close. It’s one of the fans’ favorite events. Fans come from all over, and the kids really look forward to it. You can’t go anywhere to find all these teams and talent in one gym.”