Martin County Middle Lady Cards go 3-1

Harper Runyon of MCMS splits Belfry defenders Aug. 6 on a drive to the bucket in Pike County. (Citizen photo by Brittni McCoy)

BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — Martin County Middle School’s Lady Cardinals continued their early-season surge last week, piling up three more A-team victories before seeing a four-game winning streak snapped in a four-point loss to Pikeville.

Paige Stafford powered the run with 82 points across four games, including a seven-3-pointer performance against Betsy Layne and Player of the Game honors at the Cassidy Rowe-Roberts Classic.

Martin County also picked up wins at the B- and C-team levels during the week.

MCMS’s Paige Stafford is hacked on the arm while driving to the basket at Belfry, Aug. 6. She fired in seven shots from beyond the arc in a 45-14 win over Betsy Layne last week. (Citizen photo by Brittni McCoy)

MC 46, SHS 18

Martin County controlled the A-team matchup from start to finish in a 46-18 home victory Aug. 18 over Salyersville.

Stafford poured in 21 points to lead the Lady Cardinals. Harper Runyon knocked down three shots from downtown on her way to 12. Layla Cline added five points, Kenleigh Estep scored four and Braylee Horn and Martha Maynard chipped in two apiece.

The Lady Cardinals led 15-8 before ripping off 14 unanswered points to take command. Martin County later turned a 31-15 advantage into a 46-17 cushion with a 15-2 run.

The offense moved the rock throughout the contest, recording 16 assists on 17 made field goals.

Brooklyn Nichols poured in 15 points as the Martin County B team rolled past Salyersville 37-21.

Layla Cline followed with 12 points, McKenna Fletcher added six, and Elizabeth Dials and Aubrey Wilson scored two apiece.

Nichols knocked down three 3-pointers. Dials led the Lady Cards on the glass with six rebounds.

Martin County finished with 22 rebounds and 11 assists.

Lady Cardinals player Elizabeth Dials warms up shooting free throws before an Aug. 6 game at MCMS. (Citizen photo by Brittni McCoy)

MC 45, BL 14

Stafford caught fire from deep as Martin County rolled to a 45-14 home victory over Betsy Layne, Aug. 20

Stafford buried seven 3-pointers on the night. She was 5-for-5 in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 27 points.

The Lady Cardinals turned a slim 3-2 advantage into a rout with a 19-0 run.

She scored 19 in the first half as Martin County raced to a 22-4 lead and never looked back.

Runyon added nine points, Maynard scored eight and Estep chipped in one.

Runyon and Maynard also pulled down seven rebounds apiece.

Martin County’s C team held off Betsy Layne 34-30.

Nichols led the Lady Cards with 15 points, Howell poured in 10 and Dials added nine.

Martin County led 15-11 after the opening quarter and carried a 19-15 advantage into halftime. Betsy Layne trimmed the margin to one at 25-24 entering the fourth, but the Lady Cards closed the game with a 9-6 final period to secure the win.

The B team fell 39-5 to Betsy Layne. Sarah McCoy drained a trey for three points for Martin County and Dials added a bucket for two.

MCMS guard Harper Howell blocks a Johnson County shot Aug. 10 at JCMS. (Citizen photo by Brittni McCoy)

MC 30, Phelps 19

Martin County carried its winning streak into the Cassidy Rowe-Roberts Classic at Shelby Valley Elementary School and knocked off Phelps 30-19, Aug. 22.

Stafford again led the charge with 21 points and earned Player of the Game honors.

Phelps came out firing and opened the contest with a 7-0 run, but Martin County did not stay down long.

Trailing 9-5, the Lady Cards answered with a 10-1 surge to take control and went into halftime with a 13-10 advantage.

Martin County pulled away after the break, outscoring Phelps 17-9 in the second half.

Stafford knocked down two 3-pointers and scored 21 of Martin County’s 30 points. Horn followed with seven points, while Nichols added two.

The win was Martin County’s fourth straight at the A-team level following victories over Paintsville, Salyersville and Betsy Layne.

Braylee Horn of MCMS shoots a corner shot for the Cardinals at Belfry earlier this month. (Citizen photo by Brittni McCoy)

PHS 28, MC 24

The Lady Cardinals’ winning streak came to an end later Aug. 22, but not without a battle.

Martin County and Pikeville went into halftime deadlocked at 14 before the Panthers edged the Lady Cards 14-10 in the second half for a 28-24 victory.

Stafford led Martin County with 13 points. Horn buried two 3-pointers and finished with six points; Nichols scored three and Fletcher added two. Maynard battled on the glass and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

Martin County shot well from behind the arc. They knocked down three 3-pointers, but Pikeville used a 7-0 second-half run after trailing 16-14 to swing the game.

The Lady Cardinals will head back on the road with a rematch at Pikeville on Aug. 27. On Sept. 1, the squad will travel to Salyersville.

The Cards were scheduled to play at Adams Aug. 25. Details will be in next week’s edition.

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