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Lady Panthers softball opens season with road win
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — The Tug Valley Lady Panthers opened their 2026 softball season Thursday with a 13-2 road win over Shelby Valley. Like most teams in the region, the wintry weather forced the postponement of a couple of games earlier in the week. Bailee Hall, Emma Lackey and Bryleigh Fletcher each…
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First State Bank Player of the Week: Braydun Ferris
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Tug Valley senior star Braydun Ferris is the First State Bank Player of the Week. Ferris delivered one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent memory, leading the Panthers to a third straight West Virginia Class A state championship. Ferris was the driving force behind Tug…
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Tug Valley wins third straight Class A state title
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Tug Valley High School Panthers did something rare in sports. They won their third straight Class A state championship by defeating the Greater Beckley Christian (GBC) Crusaders 64-54 Saturday morning at the Charleston Coliseum. The Beckley school came into the tourney as the No. 1 seed,…
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Tug Valley reaches championship game with semifinal win over Tucker County
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tug Valley will play in the Class A state championship game for the third straight season. The Panthers downed Tucker County 56-43 in the semifinals of the West Virginia State High School Basketball Tournament at the Charleston Coliseum early Thursday afternoon. The Panthers defeated the Mountain Lions…
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Senior-driven cast to direct Lady Cards softball
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With a senior-heavy roster and a full slate of games ahead, Martin County High School’s softball team will look to turn experience into progress during the 2026 season. The Lady Cardinals finished 9-15 overall last season, including a 6-9 mark in the 15th Region and a 0-7 record in…
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Martin County to open baseball season with new coach, new energy
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County baseball enters the 2026 season with a new head coach, a mix of veteran leadership and young talent, and a team mindset centered on effort and improvement. Ethan Osborne, previously an assistant in the program, takes over the Cardinals after Martin County finished 10-16 overall last season,…
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First State Bank Player of the Week: Lukas Mays
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Lukas Mays is the First State Bank Player of the Week. Mays, of Martin County Wrestling, won the Kentucky USA Folkstyle State Championship in the 10U 56-pound division Saturday in Cecelia. He turned in an impressive run through the bracket. Mays opened with a pin in 57 seconds,…
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Dials, Keathley named to 15th Region All-Tournament Team
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — Martin County standouts Bryson Dials and Braxton Keathley were named to the 15th Region All-Tournament Team after turning in strong performances throughout the tournament. The duo powered Martin County to a pair of postseason wins before the Cardinals’ season came to an end in a 70-61 loss to Pikeville…
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Cardinals open 2-0, Lady Cards split opening tennis matches
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN SALYERSVILLE — Martin County High School tennis teams opened the 2026 season March 12 with the boys earning back-to-back team wins while the Lady Cardinals battled to a tie in their opener before dropping their second match. Martin County opened the season at Magoffin County. The Cardinals posted a dominant 6-0…
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Get your picks in for March Madness for a chance to win a $100 gift card
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — March Madness is back, and so is the Mountain Citizen’s NCAA bracket challenge after a successful debut last year. The official bracket printed in March 18 edition of the Mountain Citizen is the only bracket that may be used in the contest. Participants have until noon Thursday, March 19…










