BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PIKEVILLE — Martin County High School boys concluded the 2024-2025 season as runner-up in the 15th Region Tournament. The Cards lost the title contest to Lawrence County 97-84 on March 11 at Pike Central.
With Parker Watts and Devan Maynard getting into early foul trouble, Coach Jason “JJ” James’ Cards could not quite get over the hump in the second half.
“They never quit,” Coach James commented. “We got behind and played some younger guys who gave us some good minutes but were put in a tough spot. But they battled all the way through and I’m proud of them.”
After Brayden Estep, Bryson Dials, Peyton Davis and Watts each knocked down a 3-pointer in the first quarter, it appeared the Cards would be on fire for the night.
But with Watts picking up his third foul before the first-period horn, the momentum shifted. As Martin County struggled to put points on the board, Devan Maynard was called for his third foul before the half.
Down 47-32 coming out of the locker room, Watts returned to the floor and fired in 12 points in the third quarter. Davis stepped to the free-throw line and sunk 5 of 6 to get the Cards within striking distance.
A Bulldogs run stretched the gap to 75-58 entering the final stanza.
Davis drained three 3-pointers to begin a Cardinals run. He pulled Martin County to within 10 points with two and a half minutes remaining.
The Cards put on a full-court press that flustered Lawrence County, but Martin County could not convert the turnovers into points and fell short.
Coach James mentioned his six seniors who played their final game.
“They mean the world to me,” James said. “Peyton has been here for six years and is a heck of a kid, a great player. We’ve made great memories with him.”
Davis, the team’s leading 3-point shooter finished the night with 23 points on five shots from downtown.
“I think we did great this year,” Davis said through tears after the game. “We put up a lot of points, can’t say anything bad about my team. The community showed up for us every night. I’m glad to have this experience with these guys. We’re family forever.”
James bragged on Watts, saying the transfer now sits as the seventh-ranked scoring leader in Kentucky.
“Parker has been phenomenal this year and put on a show for the time he was here,” said the coach.
Watts racked up a double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds in the runner-up finish.
“This is a family. Win or lose. We’re one phone call away. We’ll always be there for each other. That’s more important than any championship,” Watts mustered up his words. “This place made me a better person on and off the court. I just want to thank the coaches for being there for me and lifting us up.”
Coach James expressed gratitude for Estep.
“Brayden Estep is a great kid,” he said. “He bought his time; he’s played with some great guards over the years. He had a fantastic season and done a lot for us.”
The workhorse was tied as the team’s leading rebounder at 7.6 per game.
“I’m hurt but happy for Lawrence County going to Rupp,” Estep said. “It’s been the best year I could have imagined. I grew up here, and it means the world to me to get to play for Martin County.”
Estep finished with seven points and five rebounds.
Maynard, a junior, had a double-double scoring 12 points and securing 11 boards.
Dials, a freshman, hit for eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Junior Eli Mills hit a trey and had two rebounds, while freshman Aiden Copeland scored a bucket off the bench with one rebound.
Senior BJ Parsley’s tenure includes four 57th District titles, two 15th Region All “A” titles, a state tournament berth, and three straight appearances in the 15th Region Tournament championship game.
“We think of BJ as one of our coaches,” Coach James said. “He missed out on Rupp with his health issues, but he’s gone above and beyond in everything he’s done.”
Parsley had to go for surgery the day his team entered Rupp Arena in the state tournament in March 2023.
“When I had to have surgery, I thought the world was going to end,” Parsley said. “At the beginning of this year, I knew we had a good team even though we lost four seniors. My quote from the underclassmen was, ‘Where do we go from here? Do we go back, or do we cross that line and move forward with going to Rupp?’ My dream is to coach high school basketball. This loss makes me even hungrier. When I get that opportunity one day, I can finally check that box off. There isn’t another team in this region—in this world—that I’d rather be with than those boys that I was just sitting with in that locker room.”
Aiden Armstrong and Skyler Morrison were a big part of this team as well.
“They provided great support,” said Coach James. “I’m going to miss them all.”
James credited the opponent.
“Lawrence played awesome,” he said. “I have to commend them on their effort. They got hot at the right time. They shot well and hurt us on the boards.”
Martin County’s 2024-2025 season includes the 57th District title for the fourth year in a row, the 15th Region All “A” Classic championship, and the 15th Region Tournament runner-up.
