Martin County Middle battles Belfry

MCMS’s Brooke Nichols looks to make her way past a Belfry defender during Thursday’s action at MCMS. (Citizen photo by Natasha Moore)

BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — Martin County Middle School went toe-to-toe with Belfry Sept. 3 before the Pirates pulled away in both contests.

The Lady Cardinals stayed within striking distance in the A-team game before falling 44-34. Martin County’s B team mounted a strong fourth-quarter rally in a 32-23 loss at home.

BMS 44, MCMS 34

Martin County gave Belfry all it wanted in the A-team matchup.

Harper Runyon got the Lady Cards on the board before Braylee Horn connected from beyond the arc.

Martin County grabbed a 9-7 advantage before Belfry answered with nine straight points to take control.

The Lady Cards battled back.

Kenleigh Estep scored and Runyon buried a 3-pointer. Martha Maynard also went to work inside as Martin County stayed within four, 20-16, at halftime.

Kenleigh Estep (0) of MCMS floats a shot over a Belfry defender during a home contest Sept. 3. (Citizen photo by Natasha Moore)

Paige Stafford scored to open the second half and cut Belfry’s lead to 20-18.

Belfry answered with an 11-3 run to build some breathing room.

Stafford buried a 3-pointer during the second-half battle and later scored inside. Maynard added two more buckets while Runyon continued driving to the basket.

Martin County kept battling late. Runyon converted inside and added a free throw. Stafford scored again before Brooke Nichols closed out the Lady Cardinal scoring.

Belfry held on for the 44-34 victory.

Stafford led Martin County with 10 points. Runyon fired in eight. Maynard scored six and Estep added five. Horn finished with three points and Nichols added two.

Martin County collected 14 rebounds. Maynard led the Lady Cards on the glass with five.

The Lady Cards also handed out nine assists on 13 made baskets.

Martin County also made its presence felt defensively. Stafford recorded two steals and one block. Horn came away with one steal, while Runyon blocked one shot.

The Martin County pep section cheers on the Lady Cardinals during Thursday’s home matchup with Belfry. (Citizen photo by Natasha Moore)

BMS 32, MCMS 23

Martin County’s B team refused to fold after falling behind early.

Belfry led 9-3 after the opening quarter and took a 16-5 advantage into halftime.

The Pirates stretched the margin to 26-10 through three quarters before Martin County came alive.

The Lady Cards poured in 13 points in the fourth quarter while holding Belfry to six.

Brooke Nichols scored inside during the Lady Cardinals’ comeback. Harper Howell added a bucket before Gabby Mann knocked down two free throws.

Kylie Messer scored inside and added a free throw. Mann capped the Martin County scoring with a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Martin County’s Sarah McCoy battles for a rebound against an Adams defender in Floyd County last week. (Citizen photo)

The Lady Cards won the fourth quarter 13-6, but Belfry held on for the 32-23 victory.

Nichols led Martin County with eight points.

Howell and Mann scored five points each. Messer added three, while Layla Cline finished with two.

Howell also recorded an assist and a defensive rebound.

Martin County returns home Sept. 14 to host Hazard.

,
, , , ,