BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WARFIELD — Martin County Middle School girls basketball will have a familiar face at the realms this upcoming season. School administrators announced All-American Boo Newsome as the new head coach last week.
The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Newsome is following in the footsteps of her mother, longtime Martin County coach Robin Harmon-Newsome.
Newsome is becoming quite the legend herself. She was recently named an All-American in golf at the University of Pikeville and was nationally ranked in each of her five seasons.
Newsome received her bachelor’s degree in biology in three years at UPike and finished her golf career while earning a master’s in business administration. She will be teaching health at Martin County High School this year.
Basketball is in Newsome’s blood. She has been around the sport since the ball was bigger than she was and played at Sheldon Clark through her junior season.
Newsome has been an assistant coach at the high school for three years and will continue that in addition to coaching the middle school. She is ecstatic to begin this new venture.
“It feels like a full-circle moment,” Newsome said. “I grew up in the program and have loved every second of it. Getting a chance to help the kids grow in the game and life is an amazing opportunity.”
The new coach is excited to get practice going after the KHSAA dead period. She has attended the open gyms at the high school, so she has seen a few middle schoolers play.
“The middle school program is young, but we have a lot of talent,” commented Newsome.
MCMS is losing Brooke Marcum, Bella Muncy, Chloe May, Sophie Harless, Tessa Thompson and Angelina Moore to the high school team.
“The upcoming group has some big shoes to fill, but I already see a lot of potential in this group,” added Newsome. “It’s a rebuilding phase, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Newsome will meet with the MCMS principal next week to discuss dates for workouts and practices. She will be posting information on her Facebook page to keep everyone updated.