BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County lost a 78-70 battle to regional rival Betsy Layne at home Dec. 12.

This was a physical game from the tipoff. Martin County, under Coach Jason James, had just come off a great showing in the WYMT Classic, where they defeated Knott County and went to the wire with top-ranked Harlan County. Betsy Layne, with first-year coach Mike Howard, was playing for the first time this season, having finished last season 19-11.

Betsy Layne got to the foul line early and often in the first quarter, hitting 9 of 10 free throws to jump out to a 22-13 lead, which proved to be the difference in the game. Senior Dray Duff scored 11 of Martin County’s 13 first-quarter points.

Martin County’s Brayden McKenzie and Luke Hale were in early foul trouble. Teammate Jacob Sturgell picked up the slack with his 10 second-quarter points. The Cards trailed 39-29 at the half.

Martin County rallied to close the gap to 56-52 in the third quarter. Sturgell led the offense with 12 points.

The Cards cut it to 63-60 with 4:42 to go in the fourth, but that was as close as they would get as Betsy Layne pulled away with the win.

Sturgell led all players with 27 points, Duff followed with 17, Peyton Davis eight, Hale seven, McKenzie six, Devon Maynard three and Bryson Dials two.

The Bobcats had four players in double figures: Andrew Kidd 23, Cameron Pente 15, Carter Parsons Cannes 13, Grayson Hall 10, Tanner Martin eight, Isaiah Allen seven, and Ethan Hammond two.