CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The (11-5) Martin County Lady Cardinals crushed Wheelersburg Pirates 60-35 Friday and battled Notre Dame Titans to a 63-62 double-overtime victory Saturday in the Buckeye Elite Showcase at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth.
Below is a recap of both games.
MC 60, W-burg 35
Senior Laken Williams fired in 21 points to lead Martin County over Wheelersburg (Ohio) 60-35 Thursday.
Wheelersburg (7-3) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first minutes of the game. Martin County coach Robin Newsome called a timeout to settle her team. The Lady Cards responded and trailed 9-8 at the end of the frame.
Martin County switched the defense to a 1-3-1 zone in the second quarter, holding Wheelersburg to three points and taking a 22-12 lead into halftime.
The Lady Cards dominated the Pirates 38-23 in the second half to come away with their 12th win of the season.
Williams led all players with 21 points for Martin County and was named Player of the Game. Katie Marcum and Brooke Marcum turned in double-figure performances with 13 points each. Chloe May and eighth grader Maci Maynard posted five points apiece and Kennadi Mollette added three.
For Wheelersburg, Peyton May led with nine points, Jaylinn Prather finished with eight, Myles Gleim added six, Emma Smith chipped in five, Makenzie Mullens scored three, and Baylee Kotcamp and Mia Vastipe each contributed two.
MC 63, ND 62
Playing back-to-back nights, Martin County went toe-to-toe with a good (8-1) Notre Dame team out of Portsmouth, Ohio, Saturday night. At the end of the double-overtime battle, the Lady Cards were victorious 63-62.
Sophomore guard Brooke Marcum had a career night, scoring 15 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter and two overtime periods to lead Martin County. She went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in overtime and was named the Player of the Game.
This was a one-point game at halftime, with Notre Dame clinging to a 28-27 lead.
The Lady Cards trailed 37-33 at the end of the third quarter but outscored Notre Dame 14-10 in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. With 2:38 to go in regulation, Marcum drove to the middle of lane and knocked down a floater to pull the Lady Cards to within 45-44.
Notre Dame scored at the 1:52 mark to go up 47-44. Marcum cut to the basket on an inbounds play and scored to close the gap to 46-46 with 1:34 remaining. The Lady Cards pressed man-to-man all over the court and forced a jump ball to regain possession with 55 seconds to go. Laken Williams drove to the basket and was fouled with 43 seconds remaining. The senior stepped to the line and knocked down 1 of 2 free throws to tie the score 47-47.
Notre Dame drove the length of the court and Katie Strickland got off a shot that Martin County’s Maci Maynard blocked and knocked out of bounds with 4 seconds left in regulation. Notre Dame fired a last-second shot that rimmed out to send the game into the first overtime.
The Titans controlled the tip in the first overtime period, and Strickland scored to give Notre Dame a 49-47 lead. With 3:03 remaining Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and went back up for a putback to tie the score 49-49. The Lady Cards got a whistle for a foul that put Notre Dame at the free-throw line to go up 51-49.
With 2:08 to go Alyssa Allen produced a steal and assisted Marcum in the left corner. Marcum calmly knocked the bottom out of a 3-pointer to put the Lady Cards in front 52-51.
Martin County drew another foul with 1:41 left, sending the Titans to the line to hit two free throws that put them in front 53-52.
Marcum drove the lane, was fouled, and knocked the bottom out of two free throws to give the Lady Cards a 54-53 lead.
Notre Dame scored on a drive with 1:04 to go, then made a free throw for a 56-54 lead with 36 seconds remaining.
Once again, Marcum drove down the lane and was fouled. She sank both free throws to tie the score at 56 with 33 seconds to go. Martin County’s defense did its job and when the horn sounded, the game was headed for the second overtime period.
The Titans again won the jump ball. Williams assisted Katie Marcum breaking to the basket to give the Lady Cards a 58-56 lead with 1:30 to go. Martin County was whistled for a foul and Notre Dame hit both free throws to tie it at 58. With 1:02 to go Martin County turned the ball over and Allen was hit with her fifth personal foul. Notre Dame made both free throws go up 60-58. Chloe May dialed a long-distance 3-pointer to put the Lady Cards back on top 61-60 with 52 seconds left. Notre Dame fought back and went in front 62-61.
Martin County junior Candace Spaulding created a defensive play, forcing Notre Dame to dribble the ball out of bounds. She followed that with a deflection and steal, finding B. Marcum, who was fouled with 6 seconds to go on the clock. Just like she did the whole game, B. Marcum stepped the line and knocked the bottom out of both free throws to set the final score.
Coach Newsome called timeout to prepare her defense set.
The Titans drove the length of the court and got off a shot, but it hit the rim and bounced off. This one belonged to the Lady Cards.
“What a game,” Coach Newsome said. “My kids fought the entire game and never once quit. Several players made big-time plays to help us pull this one out. I’m extremely proud of all the kids. Brooke Marcum put us on her back in the last quarter and the overtime periods. Candace Spaulding made two great defensive plays to keep us alive. Chloe May had ice water in her veins on that deep 3-pointer. Williams came up big on the free throws, Katie Marcum broke loose for the two, and Maynard got a huge block to save us. Kennadi Mollette and Alyssa Allen played great pressure defense to help us get back in the game. It was kids just playing their roles to help us win the game. It was a total team effort.”
Newsome added, “These types of games are exactly what we need to make us better. Of course, it’s always better when we win them.”
B. Marcum led Martin County with 22 points. May, Williams and K. Marcum followed with nine points each, Alyssa Allen added eight and Maci Maynard netted six.
Katie Strickland led Notre Dame with 29 points, Gracie Ashley finished with 18, Ella Kirby added five, Bree Hicks netted four, Annabelle Ball chipped in three and Kaylyn Parden flipped in two.
The Lady Cards move to 13-5 on the season. They will take on rival Johnson Central at home Jan. 19 in a boys-girls doubleheader.
