BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WARFIELD — The Martin County Middle School girls basketball A-team battled to a thrilling 28-24 overtime win over Betsy Layne on Aug. 7, while the B-team crushed the Bobcats 35-8.
Makenna Marcum scorched a 3-pointer from the wing with under four minutes left in regulation to tie the game at 21.
After Betsy Layne regained the lead, sixth-grader Braylee Horn was fouled on a shot from the corner. The sixth-grader sank a clutch free throw with 30 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Kennedy Mills won the tip and Marcum scored off the jump to put the Lady Cardinals ahead by two. Moments later, KB Muncy found a loose ball and buried a jumper in the paint to make it 26-22.
Betsy Layne added two points before missing a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
Mills wrestled down a key rebound and kicked it out to Marcum, who drove inside and sank a runner at the block with 15 seconds left to seal the win.
After the game, Coach Boo Newsome praised Marcum’s steady presence in high-pressure moments.
“Makenna is a hard worker. She comes up in clutch moments,” Newsome said. “She’s always leading the pack, whether it’s an assist, a rebound or a shot.”
She also credited Mills for her grit in the paint during the closing minutes.
“Kennedy is our main rebounder,” said Newsome. “We’re a small team and she’s learning to work on the inside. She’s pulling down boards, communicating, and being a leader.”
Newsome also mentioned the defensive effort of Zoe Sammons.
“Zoe had a huge responsibility guarding their best player,” said the coach. “She locked her down in the second half.”
Marcum said she thrives in close games.
“We started off slow but we picked up the pace,” Marcum said. “We played as a team. I like close games more than blowing an opponent out. It’s good competition.”
Marcum led all scorers with 15 points. Alivia Stacy hit for five points and Harleigh Maynard three. Muncy and Sammons scored two apiece, and Horn finished with the game-tying free throw.
“The B team is looking ready to go. The 6th and 7th graders have admired our program. They know what it means to be a Lady Card. They are go-getters, they know how to score, they give 110% and have a high basketball IQ at a young age,” Coach Newsome bragged on her younger group.
“Braylee came in as a sixth grader in an A-team game and stepped up to the line and hit a huge free throw for us. Harper Runyon made some assists, and Paige Stafford came in and helped us handle the ball. It was a total team effort.”
In the B-team game, Martin County rolled to a 35-8 win. Paige Stafford led with 13 points, Harper Runyon added nine, Horn had seven and Kenleigh Estep scored six.
The squad will travel to Paintsville on Thursday. They will host John’s Creek on Aug. 18 at MCMS.