OnPoint Swish adds another win

OPB Swish forward Taylor Pearson with the jump shot against the Raleigh Aces in mid-July at Martin County High School. Pearson had seven points and five boards in the Swish’s third win of the season. (Citizen photo by Roger Smith)

BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — OnPoint Swish put up a dominating performance against the Gastonia Greyhounds on Saturday in Inez. The Swish will play their final Martin County game this Saturday at 6 p.m.

Dasia Thornton continued her hot streak with a double-double in the 102-41 win.

Hall of Famer and Martin County High School girls coach Robin Newsome was honored before the start of the game for helping pave the way for women’s basketball in eastern Kentucky.

Martin County High School head coach and Hall of Famer Robin Newsome recognized for her commitment to women’s basketball before the OnPoint Swish semi-professional game Saturday in Inez. (Citizen photo by Boo Newsome)

Jason Johnson, the founder of Project K-9 Hero, was also honored as a globally recognized leader.

The Swish jumped out of the gates on the Greyhounds early and ended the first quarter with a 29-10 lead.

OnPoint went to the locker room on a high note when Thornton pulled down an offensive board. She kicked it out to Dena Jarrells who connected with Makayla Epps on the cross-court pass for the buzzer-beating 3 to end the half.

Martin County Hall of Famer Carla Booth had 12 points going into the locker room. Thornton had 10 and Epps led the team with 13 first-half points.

Martin County Hall of Famer Carla Booth looks over a Raleigh Ace defender on July 20 in Inez. (Citizen photo by Roger Smith)

With 30 seconds showing on the clock in the third quarter, former Magoffin star Kennedi Stacy drove the length of the floor. Stacy entered the paint with a behind-the-back dribble and went for the underhand scoop for two to put the Swish up 72-33.

Stacy stayed alive to begin the fourth quarter. She picked a Greyhound’s pocket on the inbounds pass and drove in for a lay-up.

On the ensuing play, she stole the ball again and threw ahead to Dena Jarrells. With her signature behind-the-back pass, Jarrells connected with Booth for two.

Former WNBA player Victoria Dunlap extended the lead to 90-38. She caught a rebound in the air and put it back up with four minutes remaining.

Thornton packed the stat sheet, rebounding her own miss and going back up for two.

The Swish hit the century mark when Stacy flipped the handoff to Epps for the three.

Epps finished the game with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists.

WNBA turned WABA superstar Makayla Epps lays in two for the Swish on July 20 in Inez. Epps fired in 19 points against Gastonia on Saturday. (Citizen photo by Roger Smith)

Thornton capped off her double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Jarrells fired in 15 points to go with her four assists and two rebounds.

Booth put up double digits with 14 points.

Stacy flipped in 13 points and recorded four rebounds and three assists.

Former Transylvania player Kennedi Stacy scores two in the OPB Swish’s first home game at Martin County High School. Stacy scored 13 points on Aug. 3 versus the Gastonia Greyhounds. (Citizen photo by Roger Smith)

Dunlap was knocking on the door of a double-double with 10 points, eight rebounds and one assist.

Taylor Pearson had a well-rounded game with seven points, five rebounds and three assists.

Courtney Fletcher rounded out the stat sheet with six points and one rebound.

OnPoint improved to 3-2 on the season and is ranked second in their region.

The Swish return to Inez at 6 p.m. Saturday for the final game in Inez, taking on the 2022 WABA champ Atlanta Angels. Their final eastern Kentucky game will be played Aug. 24 in Hazard.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for school-aged children.

Jackie’s Gymnastics performs at halftime on July 20 at the OPB Swish semi-pro game in Inez. (Citizen photo by Roger Smith)

Jason Johnson was recognized Saturday at Martin County High School before the OPB Swish game. As the Founder of Project K-9 Hero, he has dedicated his life to making sure retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs receive the care they deserve once their service to the country is complete. Johnson is a former K-9 Subject Matter Expert in the U.S. Government working for the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Department of State in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a Police SWAT and K-9 Officer, as well as a U.S. Army Military Police Officer. Johnson holds a master’s degree in security management and is a published author and executive producer of television and film. (Citizen photo by Boo Newsome)

The OPB Swish players and staff with their sponsor Project K-9 Hero Jason Johnson at Martin County High School on Saturday. (Citizen photo by Boo Newsome)

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