Keathley posts triple-double with 47 points
BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — Martin County looked midseason sharp in its first live action of the year. The Cards handled Knott Central 87-60 in a preseason boys basketball scrimmage hosted by Johnson Central, Nov. 22.
Newcomer Braxton Keathley showed why he is Kentucky’s most talked-about scorer. The 6-foot-5 guard delivered a monster triple-double in his Cardinals debut. He piled up 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals while also dishing out six assists.
Keathley was highly efficient from the floor going 17-of-23 from 2-point range and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free-throw line.
Senior guard Eli Mills knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points, two rebounds and an assist on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.
Returning standout Devan Maynard chipped in a blue-collar line of nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and three steals, going 4-of-6 on 2-point attempts.
Fellow starter Alan Moore controlled the glass with eight rebounds to go with four points and three assists as Martin County cleaned up misses.
Brayden Marcum got the start with Bryson Dials sitting out as a precaution for a minor injury. Marcum delivered with seven points, two rebounds, three assists and five steals while drilling a pair of 3-pointers and posting a team-best plus-28 plus-minus.
Martin County also got quality minutes off the bench. Luke Preece provided a spark with five points, hitting both of his field-goal attempts, including a 3-pointer, and finishing plus-7.
Aiden Copeland scored two points, grabbed a rebound and went 2-of-2 from the line while posting a plus-13. Jayden Yates added two points and a rebound from inside the arc.
The Cardinals will take on Wayne (WV) in the nightcap of the highly anticipated Zip Zone Classic at 8:50 p.m. Saturday at MCHS.