Davis named player of the game
BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
SALYERSVILLE — The Cardinals and Eagles were cawing at each other across the Magoffin County court Thursday as Martin County etched another chapter in its storied basketball legacy. The Cards secured their fourth consecutive 57th District Tournament championship with a decisive 87-71 victory over Johnson Central.
Martin County Coach Jason “JJ” James is no stranger to the battle his team stepped into.
“This means a lot, especially being in our district,” James said. “There are so many good teams. When we started, we just wanted to win one. Now it’s four in a row, five of the last six. We’ve had a good run.”
On the whiteboard in the locker room were three goals: All “A” Classic, District and Region. After splitting the regular season with Johnson Central, this game was up in the air.
Both teams came out with guns blazing. A Parker Watts 3 from the top of the key gave Martin County a 12-9 lead halfway through the first quarter.
Watts dipped a pass to fellow senior Peyton Davis cutting to the basket.
In the full-court press, Davis stole the rock and scored for a 21-15 lead with time ticking away in the first.
Johnson Central got a quick shot off before the buzzer and got a lucky bounce to cut the deficit to three.
With tensions high, the Cardinals kept the pressure on. A rebound led to a Davis 3 coming out of the break.
The Eagles reeled off an 8-0 run before Watts hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to break the Eagles momentum.
After a back-and-forth affair the Cards found themselves down two with the second quarter disappearing.
Watts held for the last shot and drove in with five seconds on the ticker. He spun in the lane and overhanded a pass to Davis drifting to the corner.
He nailed it at the buzzer to send Martin County to the dressing room with a 42-40 lead.
Fans visited the concessions and came back with fire still beneath their feet.
Martin County sent the ice to the Eagle’s section with Brayden Estep faking a 3 and sinking it to open the half.
The 2-2-1 press caused fits for Coach Tommy McKenzie’s squad. With Cards diving on the floor, Devan Maynard picked up the loose ball and threw ahead to Bryson Dials for two.
On the ensuing possession, Dials converted the and-1 for a 52-43 lead with only two minutes gone off the clock in the second half.
An 11-3 Cardinals run began to open up the game. Martin County went to the final quarter with a 77-60 lead.
The boys in red, black, and blue never let off the gas. The squad captured their fourth 57th District title in a row.
“Johnson Central plays similarly to us, and they’re a really good team. We came out in the third quarter and got hot. We made some shots and extended our lead,” Coach James said after the win.
Davis was named player of the game after pouring his heart out on the floor and hitting five shots from downtown.
“All four years of high school, I’ve won this championship. I cheer my guys on through mistakes. All the hard work is paying off. It’s incredible where we’re at right now. It’s a big rival win for us,” Davis told the Mountain Citizen.
Assistant Coach Jaryd Crum was fired up after the big win. He congratulated Davis after his outstanding performance.
“He’s a stud. He plays hard every day,” Crum said.
Davis finished with 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting. He pulled down eight boards and stole the ball twice.
Watts stuffed the stat sheet with 28 points, five assists, five rebounds and a steal.
“This win felt like we deserved it,” the seventh-leading scorer in Kentucky said.
On if it made it a little sweeter beating Johnson Central, Watts commented, “A championship is a championship. Every time I play, my goal is just to play ball. We need to keep doing what we’re doing, cutting and off-the-ball screens. Overall, I think we’re on the right page.”
Freshman point guard Dials lit up the nets for 18 points. He dished out five assists and chalked up four steals and a block.
“I knew it was going to be tough coming in,” he said. “I know if we play as a team, no one can stop us as a unit.”
Eli Mills provided valuable minutes off the bench for the Cardinals.
“We played team ball and got it done. Our main goal is to get to Rupp. I love my role. Everyone is rooting for you and I love being a team player,” Mills thankfully added. He fired in a pair of treys and pulled down a board.
Maynard finished the night with four points, five rebounds, one assist, a steal and a block.
A contributor in every aspect of the game, he believes he should “Be the brute, get rebounds, and dish it out to my teammates. I just have to be that guy.” His goal: “Win that 15th.”
Brayden Estep leads the team in rebounding and fights for his brothers night in and night out. On his 57th District title, “It’s amazing. Coach told us our effort had to be there. If we came out strong, it would be a battle. We got the job done.”
Always giving 100%, Estep added, “I play hard. I see a shot go up and I crash. I know it’s what I have to do to help my guys win.”
Coach James led his Cardinals into the locker room and received his Gatorade bath. But not before checking that second box.
One more to go.
Martin County will take on Phelps on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pike Central.
