The Martin County JV team finished the week with two big district wins. The Cardinals defeated Johnson Central 54-45 on Jan. 3 and drubbed Paintsville 47-31 Thursday. Below is a recap of both games.
MC JV vs. JC JV
PAINTSVILLE — Martin County JV Cardinals went on the road Thursday and came up big over district rival Johnson Central 54-45. The Cardinals improved their record to 8-4 on the season.
Both teams battled in the first quarter with the lead changing hands several times. Bryson Dials scored eight of his 19 points to keep the Cardinals close. Martin County went up 11-9 at the end of one.
The Cardinals stepped up their defense in the second quarter. They held the Eagles to seven second-quarter points and took a 22-16 lead at the half.
Ethan Ferrell got going in the third quarter knocking down two treys and scoring eight of his 13 points to help the Cardinals pull away to a 40-28 lead heading into the fourth.
Johnson Central won the final quarter 17-14 to cut into the lead, but it wasn’t enough. The Cardinals managed to hold on and come away with the win.
Dials led the Cardinals knocking down three treys for 19 points. Ferrell finished with 13 points, Brayden Estep added seven, Eli Mills and Connor Dials each netted five, Devon Maynard scored three and Jarred Haney chipped in two.
Jason Shepherd led Johnson Central with 11 points.
MC JV vs. PH JV
INEZ — Martin County Junior Varsity defeated the Paintsville Tigers 47-31 in a home game Jan. 3.
Martin County jumped out on Paintsville 13-6 in the first quarter. Ethan Ferrell scored seven of his 24 points to lead the way for the Cardinals.
Both teams slowed down offensively in the second quarter. Martin County held Paintsville to just seven points. Ethan Ferrell finished with five points and Bryson Dials netted four for a total of nine points in the second for Martin County. The Cardinals went in at the half up 22-13.
The Cardinals heated up in the third quarter as Ferrell knocked down his fourth trey for the game to stretch the lead to 40-23 after three.
Martin County held on in the fourth quarter to move their record to 9-4 on the season.
Four players carried the offensive load for the Cardinals. Ferrell led all scorers with 24 points, Dials netted 11, Devon Maynard scored eight and Eli Mills added four.
Short and Helton each scored nine points to lead Paintsville.