BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
BELFRY — Martin County Middle School girls basketball hit the road to Belfry. The Lady Cardinals dropped all three contests against the Lady Pirates.
Belfry won the A-team matchup 53-30, took the B-team game 34-3 and defeated Martin County 24-8 in C-team action.
A team
Martin County battled back from an early deficit and stayed within striking distance through three quarters before Belfry pulled away for a 53-30 victory.
The Lady Pirates opened with a 4-0 lead before Braylee Horn attacked the basket for a runner, drew the foul and converted the old-fashioned three-point play.
Harper Runyon followed with a steal and pushed the rock ahead to Paige Stafford, who finished at the rim to put Martin County in front 5-4.
Belfry answered and turned up the pressure defensively. The Lady Pirates used their press to force turnovers and built a 13-6 advantage by the end of the opening quarter. Stafford added a free throw with 7.5 seconds remaining.
The Lady Pirates buried a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and stretched the lead to 18-6.
Kenleigh Estep battled for an offensive rebound, drew a foul going back up and knocked down a free throw to make it 18-7.
Belfry answered with another trey before Stafford attacked from the top of the key and finished a scoop shot for two. Runyon then came away with a steal and dished ahead to Stafford for a transition layup that cut the deficit to 21-11 with 3:09 remaining in the half.
Estep stepped into a passing lane for another Martin County takeaway, while Runyon continued to create opportunities on the defensive end.
Martha Maynard knocked down a jumper over the outstretched arms of the Belfry defense late in the quarter, and Martin County entered halftime trailing 25-13.
The Lady Cardinals came out firing in the third.
Runyon found Horn in the corner for a long two to open the half. Horn followed with another long jumper to trim Belfry’s lead to 25-17 and forced a Lady Pirate timeout.
Belfry responded out of the break and knocked down another 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 30-17.
Stafford answered when she grabbed a rebound and floated home the putback. Runyon then turned defense into offense, came away with another steal and dropped in a floater in the paint to pull Martin County within 31-21.
Horn split a pair at the charity stripe, and Maynard followed with a free throw to cut the deficit to eight at 31-23.
Belfry scored just before the horn and carried a 33-23 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Stafford found Maynard for a basket early in the final period to make it 33-25, but the Lady Pirates responded with a run.
Martin County sent Belfry to the line several times during the stretch. And the Lady Pirates repeatedly recovered missed free throws and extended possessions. Belfry took advantage and stretched its lead to 42-25.
Stafford stopped the run when she drew a foul and buried both free throws out of a Martin County timeout.
Belfry pulled away down the stretch and closed out the 53-30 victory.
Stafford paced the Lady Cardinals with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. Horn followed with 10 points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.
Maynard finished with four points, Runyon scored three and Estep chipped in one.
Runyon also dished out three assists. Estep and Stafford recorded one assist apiece, while Stafford was credited with a steal.
Martin County shot 12-of-14 from the field and 6-of-16 from the free-throw line, according to the recorded box score.
B team
Belfry defeated Martin County 34-3 in the B-team contest.
Brooklyn Nichols accounted for all three Lady Cardinals points when she buried a 3-pointer.
C team
Belfry picked up a 24-8 victory in C-team action.
Nichols led Martin County with four points. Elizabeth Dials and Aubrey Wilson each chipped in two points.