BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Coach Jason James has officially announced the 2023 Zip Zone Express Tip-off Classic schedule. All matchups will take place Nov. 25 at Martin County High School in Inez.

The premier preseason event will showcase some of the top-rated teams and players in Kentucky and West Virginia.

The action will commence at 9:30 a.m. with the Martin County Middle School boys playing a game. Their opponent will be revealed at a later date.

At 10:50 a.m., Coach Chase Parsley’s Prestonsburg Blackcats will tip off against Coach Scott Castle’s Magoffin County Hornets.

Prestonsburg, coming off a 14-15 season, looks to rely on Braxton Keatley, who averaged 14 points per game last season as an eighth grader, and junior Connor Napier, who averaged 10.3 points per game.

Magoffin County, with a 16-11 record last season and the No. 1 seed in the 57th District, returns star player Aiden Barnett, who averaged an impressive 21.3 points per game.

At noon, the Pike Central Hawks will face last year’s 16th Region champion Ashland Tomcats.

Ashland, with a 23-12 season, brings back leading scorer Zander Carter, who averaged 22.2 points per game. Carter has received offers from Liberty and EKU.

Pike Central, under the guidance of Coach Eric Ratliff, is coming off a 21-9 season and returns their top scorers Jaylan Rigdon (22.8 points per game) and Jaden Stewart (20 points per game).

At 1:20 p.m., Lawrence County will take on Butler County.

Butler County, after a 22-11 season last year, returns their top scorers Ty Price (31.2 points per game) and Lawson Rice (18.2 points per game). Price has received offers from Mississippi State and Texas A&M.

Lawrence County, with a 19-15 record last season, returns three of their top four scorers, including Andrew Bloomfield (17.1 points per game), eighth grader Hayden Perry (11.8 points last season), and Blake Marcum (9.2 points last season).

In Game 4 at 2:40 p.m., Evangel Christian will face Boyd County. Evangel Christian, led by Coach Larry Miller, returns six of their top seven players, including leading scorer Christian Doerr (18.5 points per game) and Kyran Tilley (16.1 points per game).

Boyd County, coming off a 27-6 season, returns leading scorer Jacob Spurlock (19.8 points per game) and Cole Hicks (17.8 points per game).

Game 5 at 4 p.m. will feature Lyon County taking on Great Crossing.

Lyon County returns their four-star recruit Travis Perry, who set a new scoring record in Kentucky boys basketball during last year’s Sweet 16, surpassing King Kelly Coleman’s record. Perry boasts numerous college offers, including Cincinnati, Michigan, Ole Miss, Purdue and Kentucky.

Great Crossing, with a 28-6 season, will have Malachi Moreno, who holds seven Division I scholarship offers. Moreno is considered the No. 45 overall talent in the 2025 class and the 10th-best center prospect, according to 247 Sports rankings.

Game 6 at 5:20 p.m. will feature the Martin County Lady Cardinals against the Tug Valley Lady Panthers.

The Lady Cards will welcome back one of the top 20 scorers in the state, senior Laken Williams, who averaged 20 points per game. Williams has offers from West Virginia Tech, Shawnee State and Kentucky Christian University. The Lady Cards will also feature Katie Marcum, who is known for her 14 double-doubles last season and has an offer from Alice Lloyd. Alyssa Allen, who has offers from KCU, Alice Lloyd and Wooster, will also be on the Lady Cards roster, as will senior Kennadi Mollett. Promising sophomores Brooke Marcum, Chloe May and Sophie Harless return, while the Lady Cards will welcome the addition of 6-foot-4 eighth grader Maci Maynard.

In game 7 at 6:40 p.m., Floyd Central will take on the Tug Valley Panthers.

Floyd Central, with a 19-9 season, returns leading scorers Ronnie Sammons (17.8 points per game) and Braden Moore (14.1 points per game).

Tug Valley is coached by Garland “Rabbit” Thompson, who led the Panthers to back-to-back state titles in 2012 and 2013. The Panthers had an 18-4 record last season. They will return several starters, including all-state selection Joey Gollhue, Brady Brewer, Joey Gollihue, Ashton Davis, Kaden Hale, Buddy Marcum, Paul Preece, Carson Newsome, Bryson Elia and Braydun Ferris.

The nightcap at 8 p.m. will see the Martin County Cardinals facing off against Chapmanville.

The reigning West Virginia Class 2A state champion Chapmanville will bring their 23-3 winning momentum from the previous season.

The Martin County Cardinals, coached by Jason James, are fresh off a dream 2022-2023 season. They return seniors Luke Hale (20 points per game), Brayden McKenzie (15.2 points per game), Drey Duff, Jacob Sturgell and Blake Maynard, junior Peyton Davis and sophomore Devan Maynard.