Maynard records double-double
BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — Paintsville (15-6) used a late rally to clip Martin County (8-7) 48-45 in a 57th District girls showdown. The Lady Tigers erased a fourth-quarter deficit after the Lady Cards led at every break but halftime.
Martin County carried a 12-10 lead after one, played to a 22-22 deadlock at halftime and took a 37-31 advantage into the fourth before Paintsville closed on a 12-2 run over the final six minutes.
Paintsville set the tone early with defense in transition. Kylie Kinner stole the ball and went the length of the floor for the game’s first basket, then buried a shot to make it 5-1. Martin County answered at the line when Maci Maynard scored the Lady Cards’ first point on a free throw.
Martin County had a slow start and scored its first field goal at the four-minute mark when Sophie Harless banked in a 3-pointer to cut it to 5-4.
The Lady Cards grabbed the lead moments later when Maynard pulled down a strong rebound and fired an outlet to Makenna Marcum for a 6-5 edge. Paintsville retook it on a bucket from McKinley Ramey. Then Kinner went coast-to-coast again and converted an and-1 to push the Tigers ahead 10-6.
Marcum steadied Martin County with two free throws, and Annaleigh Davis tied it late in the period with a steal and layup under 40 seconds. Marcum then attacked the rim and earned a foul with eight seconds left. She cashed in both free throws for a 12-10 Martin County lead after one.
Marcum kept her foot on the gas to open the second quarter. She slid a runner through the lane for a 14-10 lead, but Paintsville answered with two quick buckets to tie it back up.
Maynard responded with a turnaround to regain the lead, and Marcum snuck through the lane for another finish to make it 18-14 through contact. The Tigers clawed back again, scoring twice to level it at 18.
The teams continued to trade punches from there.
Maynard hit free throws to put Martin County back on top 20-18 before Paintsville answered. Davis then broke pressure outside the arc and stepped inside for a 15-footer to give the Lady Cards a 22-20 edge. Paintsville scored in the final 30 seconds to send both teams to the locker room tied at 22.
Martin County opened the second half with a spark when Marcum danced around the arc and drilled a trey. Paintsville responded to trim it to 25-24, but Davis fed Maynard on the block for another turnaround to make it 27-24.
A Maynard block on the defensive end led to Chloe May drawing a foul on the other end. May knocked down two free throws as Martin County extended the cushion to 29-24.
Paintsville kept hanging around. The Tigers went on a 5-0 run for another tie midway through the third.
May answered with a score off the glass for a 31-29 lead, but Paintsville tied it again at 31-31. Davis helped Martin County reclaim control with back-to-back buckets, a runner that banked in and another finish. She capped the quarter by stealing the ball at the top of the key and racing in for a layup that sent the Lady Cards to the fourth up 37-31.
Maynard went to work on the boards to begin the final period. She scored on a putback for an eight-point lead. Paintsville responded with a 3-pointer and a quick bucket to cut it to 39-36. Maynard answered again with consecutive putbacks for six straight points.
That is when Paintsville made its move. The Tigers finished the game on a 12-2 run to flip the contest in the final minutes.
Martin County briefly made it a one-possession game late. Harless dumped an entry pass to Maynard at the block for a bucket to pull the Lady Cards within 47-45 with just under two minutes remaining.
Paintsville missed three free throws in the closing stretch, but the Lady Cards could not convert at the other end.
Maynard powered Martin County with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds to control the paint. Marcum poured in 13 points and provided a spark in transition. Davis added 10 points for double-digits. May chipped in four points and Harless scored three.
Paintsville’s Kinner led all scorers with 23 points. Ramey and Annabelle Blankenship each finished with nine points. Kate Lauffer and Addison Helton each had four points.
