BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Bryson Dials hit a downtown 3-pointer with 16.6 seconds to seal the 45-44 win over Johnson Central in the 21st annual Zip Zone Classic held Saturday at Martin County High School.
This game saw several lead changes as both teams went back and forth.
Johnson Central had the lead at the end of the first quarter 19-15 but would cool down in the second scoring only five points.
Martin County took the lead 26-24 at the half.
Jerrod Haney came alive in the third quarter to score seven of his 15 points to push the Cardinals out to a 45-40 lead going into the final quarter.
Johnson Central came storming back to cut the lead to one with 3.23 to go. With 2.30 left in the game the Eagles went up 42-40 to take their first lead of the second half.
With 2.02 to go, Aiden Copeland hit a deuce to tie the score 40-40 with 2.02 remaining.
JC retook the lead with 1.18 left in the game to go up 42-40.
As time was winding down, JC had a slim 2-point lead and the Cardinals had the ball. Dials pulled up just past halfcourt and tickled the twine for a downtown 3 with 16.6 remaining.
The Cardinals held off the talented Johnson Central team for the win.
“I’m very proud of how we fought to stay in the game despite a poor shooting performance,” MCMS coach Josh Penix said. “Our team has exceptional shooters and that is our strength since we are undersized. We struggled most of the game, but I am proud that no one gave up. We were able to out-rebound a team that was much bigger than us and down the stretch when it mattered, the kids stepped up and hit a couple of big shots.”
Dials and Haney shared scoring honors with 15 points apiece for the Cardinals. Copeland and Liam Fields followed with six points each, Dylan Yates added two and Chase Hinkle tossed in one.
Bryson led JC with nine.
The Cardinals will travel to Fallsburg this week.
