Lady Cards pluck Johnson Central Eagles 47-39
BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County Lady Cardinals (19-4) plucked the Johnson Central Eagles 47-39 in a home game Feb. 8 to wrap up the No. 1 seed and 57th District Conference Championship for the third time in four years.
The Martin County High School gym was packed for a girls/boys doubleheader between Martin County and Johnson Central. Fans got to watch a very physical game from start to finish between the Lady Cards (19-4) and Lady Eagles (18-5).
The two had faced off earlier in the season with the Lady Cards winning big 66-46. On this night, Coach Robin Newsome’s Lady Cards had their eyes on the No. 1 seed and conference championship, and the battle was on.
Junior Laken Williams went to work recording a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds. Teammate Katie Marcum snatched 10 big boards and added six to the score.
The first half was a defensive battle. The Lady Cardinals struggled to get clean shots off due to the aggressive play. Williams found K. Marcum with a beautiful overtop pass to get the Lady Cards started 2-0 at the 6:30 minute mark. Brooke Marcum got loose, and Williams found her underneath for a three-point play. Williams drove the lane for a jump shot to put the Lady Cards up 7-3 at the end of one.
The Lady Cards held Johnson Central to just one field goal, while the Lady Eagles committed eight first-quarter turnovers.
Baskets were hard to come by in the second quarter as both teams struggled offensively. B. Marcum and Williams scored baskets to keep the Lady Cards in front 12-10 at the half.
Going into the locker room at halftime, Johnson Central’s head coach initiated a heated exchange of words with the Martin County coaching staff.
Thus, both teams started the third quarter with technical fouls, which forced both coaches to take a seat for the remainder of the game.
The Lady Cards came out fired up in the third quarter and broke the game open, outscoring Johnson Central 18-11. Kennadi Mollett knocked down a trey and a basket to provide much-needed offense while Williams added six points.
With B. Marcum, Alyssa Allen and K. Marcum all in foul trouble, Coach Robin Newsome called on her bench, Sophie Harless, Chloe May and Candace Spaulding, to step up. The three came up big. Harless hit a basket and then made a beautiful pass under the basket to Spaulding for a bucket. May got a huge block and Spaulding provided defense.
“I’ve always told them we are just as good as our bench is,” Coach Newsome said. “Tonight’s game proved this statement to be true. We had some kids get in foul trouble early, and several players came in to take up the slack. Every kid I called on tonight came in with confidence and gave us a big lift.”
K. Marcum scored four points in the third while being rotated in offense and defense to stay out of foul trouble to help the Lady Cardinals to a 30-21 lead heading into the final frame.
Williams took over, scoring 14 of her 25 points and going 9-for-12 from the free-throw line in the fourth. The Eagles outscored the Lady Cards 18-17 in the quarter, but it was not enough.
“I am so very proud of this team,” said Coach Newsome. “They have worked for this since last April. They put us in a position to control our own destiny, and they finished two of our season team goals tonight: winning the 57th District Conference and a 20-game win season. A lot of hard work, time and sacrifices showed up on the court tonight. They battled and got the job done against a very good Johnson Central team.”
Williams led the Lady Cards with 25 points and 11 boards. She also had three steals, three assists and five deflections. K. Marcum followed with six points and 10 rebounds. Kennadi Mollett dialed up five points and four rebounds. B. Marcum scored three points and added two boards and two steals. Sophie Harless knocked down a trey for three points and added two assists and two rebounds. Candace Spaulding was good for three points and two rebounds. Alyssa Allen flipped in two points and tallied two boards, two rebounds and four deflections.
Taylor McKenzie led Johnson Central with 11 points, Wright scored eight, Katlyn McKenzie netted seven, Burchett added five, Stambaugh finished with four, Marsillett chipped in three, and Younce contributed one.
The Lady Cardinals improve to 20-4 on the season.