CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
INEZ — Martin County Lady Cardinals won two back-to-back district matchups at home last week. Coach Robin Newsome’s squad swatted the Magoffin County Hornets 91-53 Monday, Dec. 11, then caged the Paintsville Tigers 73-72 Thursday night.
Below is a recap of the action.
Cards 91, Hornets 53
Martin County dominated Magoffin County for the first district win of the season.
The Lady Cards scored 22 first-quarter points and maintained the momentum to a 44-25 halftime lead.
Magoffin County was no match for Martin County as the Lady Cards tallied 21 points in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 65-40, then turned in 26 points in the fourth for the victory.
Senior Katie Marcum secured her third double-double of the season with 30 points and 10 boards for Martin County. Laken Williams followed with 24 points and nine dimes. Alyssa Allen and Chloe May added nine points each, Brooke Marcum and Maci Maynard flipped in seven each, Kennadi Mollette chipped in three, and Annaleigh Davis contributed two.
For Magoffin County, Jaylee Reed led with 22 points, Macy Williams finished with 12, Abby Barnett added seven, Emily Sluss had six, and Saylers, Bradley and Whitaker each contributed 2 points each.
MC 73, PH 72
Senior Katie Marcum recorded her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to power Martin County past visiting Paintsville 73-72 Thursday night.
Senior Laken Williams followed closely with 23 points, five steals and seven rebounds, while sophomore Brooke Marcum had a breakout game with 14 points—her season-high.
Martin County shot 70% in the first quarter to go up 19-15 on the Paintsville Lady Tigers at the end of one.
Scoring was an even 16-16 in the second quarter, ending in a 35-31 Martin County lead.
Paintsville outscored the Lady Cards 13-12 in the third frame to close the gap to 47-44 Martin County.
Both teams fought hard in the final quarter. The Lady Cards went up 62-54 before Paintsville cut it 62-60 with back-to-back 3-pointers. Alyssa Allen drew a foul and knocked down one of two free throws to make it 63-60.
Paintsville dialed up another 3-pointer to knot the score at 63. Katie Marcum found an offensive board for a putback to put the Lady Cards back in front 65-63.
Lafferty from Paintsville found an open lane to tie it again at 65-65. Williams knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Lady Cards back up 68-65. She was fouled on the next possession and connected on one of two free throws to give the Lady Cards a 69-65 lead.
The Lady Cards were using the clock and trying to get to the free-throw line. Williams drew a foul and went to the line to sink one of two shots to push Martin County’s lead to 70-65. After Paintsville missed on the other end, Williams drove the lane for a layup to stretch the lead to 72-65.
Martin County committed two straight fouls, which the Lady Tigers used to cut the lead to 72-69.
The Lady Cards forced Paintsville into a turnover and Alyssa Allen drew a foul. Allen connected on one of two free throws for a 73-69 lead.
With 8 seconds remaining the Lady Tigers drove the length of the court for a 3-pointer to set the final score.
The Lady Cards improved to 7-1 on the season.
Coach Newsome praised her team’s effort.
“We had kids step up defensively and offensively and make big plays when we needed them,” Newsome said. “Allen, Mollette and Marcum drew the assignment of guarding Paintsville’s two leading scorers in Preece and Kinner.”
Katie Marcum scored a game-high 28 points, Williams followed with 23 points, Brooke Marcum scored 14 points, Alyssa Allen seven points and five rebounds, and Kennadi Mollett chipped in one point.
For Paintsville, Kylie Kinner led with 21 points, Karah Lafferty added 16, Emilea Preece finished with 10, Emma Keaton chipped in nine, Shay Music knocked down six, and KK Vannoy and Anna Blankenship flipped in five each.
