BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County Middle School’s boys basketball team dropped a pair of hard-fought contests last week, including an overtime heartbreaker. The Cardinals hit the road Dec. 2 for a junior varsity and varsity doubleheader at Belfry, then hosted Ceredo-Kenova on Dec. 6.

The varsity matchup at Belfry was a tight battle with the Cardinals coming up just short 44–39.

Guard Kooper Sturgill led Martin County with 15 points to spearhead the offense.

Chucky Leonard followed with eight points, while Brayden Hammond added six. Walker Sturgill chipped in five points, Grayson Mollett finished with three and Mayson Phillips rounded out the scoring with two.

In junior varsity action at Belfry, Martin County fell 38–14.

Zander Sammons paced the Cardinals with six points. He was joined in the scoring column by Kason Evans with four points and CJ Nichols and Rylee Damron with two points apiece.

Martin County returned to its home floor Saturday and nearly broke through with a statement win, but fell 39–38 in overtime to Ceredo-Kenova.

K. Sturgill turned in a big night again to lead the Cardinals, pouring in a game-high 18 points. W. Sturgill backed him with nine points.

Mollett contributed four points, Hammond added three, and Phillips and Landon Estep chipped in two points each.