BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WARFIELD — The Martin County Middle School opened the boys basketball season at 4-3 under head coach Michael Coleman.
With a roster full of athleticism and talent, the youthful squad has potential.
“I knew coming into the year we were going to have some growing pains due to being very young and inexperienced. I only return one starter from last year’s team,” Coach Coleman said.
“We have worked very hard this season and improved throughout the year. I am pleased with the effort and hard work that they have put in. I think by the end of the season we will be a very tough team to beat.”
MC vs John’s Creek – The Cards kicked off their season with a 45-36 win Nov. 4 against a solid John’s Creek team in Warfield.
A Bentlee Bowman 3-pointer and bucket got things going.
Luke Preece’s eight first-half points sent Martin County to the locker room with a 16-11 lead.
Braxton Pack nailed a bucket from behind the arc. Then Preece reeled off another seven points to give their team a 31-20 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Jayden Yates sent two buckets through and a free throw to keep the Cards hot. Preece went 6-7 at the free-throw line to seal the deal.
Preece hit a blistering 21 points to lead all scorers. Yates finished in double digits with 10 points.
Bowman fired in seven points. Bradley Hatfield recorded four points and Pack finished with three.
MC vs Magoffin – The Hornets opened the Nov. 19 game on their home court with a 19-9 lead and the Cards could never recover.
Jayden Yates led all scorers in the 28-25 loss with 12 points, two rebounds and an assist.
Luke Preece finished with six points, two rebounds and an assist and steal.
With a strong performance on the glass, Bradley Hatfield pulled down six boards, dished out an assist and recorded one steal and one point.
Braxton Pack added two points and one rebound. Zaiden Tackett contributed a basket and one steal. Bentlee Bowman scored two points.
In the JV contest, Magoffin won 45-16.
Grayson Mollette led the Cards with six points, Mayson Phillips flipped in five, Chucky Leonard had three points and Tackett scored a bucket.
MC vs Kermit – Martin County took on Kermit in the Zip Zone Classic on Nov. 30 in Inez and came away with a 35-24 win.
Luke Preece led the way with 12 points. Jayden Yates fired in seven points, Braxton Pack followed up with six points, Bradley Hatfield flipped in four points and Bentlee Bowman, Brayden Hammond and Grayson Mollette each scored a bucket.
MC vs Huntington Express Prep – The varsity squad dropped a close one to Htown 42-38 on Dec. 3 despite a 26-22 lead at halftime.
Luke Preece fired in 12 points to lead the Cardinals. Jayden Yates and Bradley Hatfield shared an eight-piece, Bentlee Bowman hit six points, and Braxton Pack and Zaiden Tackett each added a basket.
In the JV contest, the Cards opened on a 10-6 lead but were outscored 18-9 in the second half.
Tackett poured in 11 points in the 24-19 loss. Mayson Phillips flipped in six points and Chucky Leonard scored a bucket.
MC vs Paintsville – Luke Preece and Jayden Yates hit double digits to propel the Cards past the Tigers 49-37 on Dec. 5.
Braxton Pack hit a bucket and two from the charity stripe to get things going in the first quarter.
Preece scored a pair of jumpers and two free throws to send the Cards to the break with a 20-13 lead.
A balanced scoring attack saw Martin County put 19 points on the board in the third including a Zaiden Tackett 3-ball.
Preece finished the night with 15 points and Yates fired in 12. Pack flipped in nine points, Bentlee Bowman and Tackett each accounted for five points and Bradley Hatfield contributed three.
The JV lost 27-17 with Tackett leading the young Cardinals with nine points. Chucky Lenoard muscled in six points and Brayden Hammond scored a bucket for two.
