Maynard sets record, May hits career high
BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County’s first week of girls basketball featured a dominant home opener over Shelby Valley with a 77-59 win Dec. 2. Maci Maynard set the record for a combined double-double and Chloe May scored a career-high while hitting her 500th career point. The Lady Cards dropped a tough 55-42 loss on the road Saturday to St. Henry at the Madison Central Shoot Out.
Maynard finished with 21 points and 24 rebounds, setting a school record for the highest-scoring double-double recorded, just two boards shy of former Lady Cardinal Maddie Thompson’s single-game rebounding mark. Thompson went on to play her college career at Alice Lloyd.
Maynard went 10-of-17 from the field, added two blocks and three assists and controlled the glass from start to finish.
Senior sharpshooter May poured in 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. She dished out seven assists and nabbed a steal. She shot 8-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc. May went a perfect 4-of-4 at the foul line.
Martin County shot 47.1% from the field (32-of-68), assisted on 19 of its 32 made baskets and won the rebounding battle 48-28, including 20 offensive boards. The Lady Cards turned it over just eight times.
Annaleigh Davis gave Martin County another scoring punch with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting. She knocked down her only 3-point attempt, dished out two assists and came up with three steals.
Freshman guard Makenna Marcum filled the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Senior Sophie Harless grinded out five points, a rebound and an assist. Desirae Gullett gave valuable minutes off the bench and chipped in two points and a rebound.
Martin County led 19-14 after one quarter and 35-31 at halftime before breaking it open in the third. The Lady Cards outscored Shelby Valley 22-10 in the frame, shooting 56.3% from the field and 50% from three while owning a 16-6 edge on the glass to build a 57-41 cushion.
Head coach Robin Newsome was especially pleased with her team’s second-half response.
“Really proud of all the kids. They played really well coming out of the break,” Newsome said. “We still have a ways to go and a lot to work on. Our schedule only gets harder. Our goal is to get better each game.”
Four days later, the Lady Cards ran into St. Henry at the Madison Central Shootout. Maynard posted her second straight double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, but St. Henry’s defense slowed Martin County’s attack in a 55-42 loss.
May continued her strong start to the season. She knocked down three 3-pointers on her way to 14 points. Marcum added four points, and Davis finished with two.
Through two games, Maynard has piled up 43 points and 35 rebounds, while May has totaled 37 points and 20 rebounds to anchor Martin County’s frontcourt.
Newsome said the opening week showed both what her team can be and what it still has to clean up against top-tier opponents.
“Our goal is to get better each time out,” she said. “If we keep doing that, the rest will take care of itself.”
The Lady Cards hosted Betsy Layne on Tuesday. They will play Saturday in the Lisa Collins Classic at South Laurel against a solid Harlan team. Gametime is 4 p.m. Martin County will host Letcher Central, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.