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Tug Valley smashes Calhoun County in regional tourney opener
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers smashed the visiting Calhoun County Red Devils, 104-51, in the Class A, Region IV semi-finals at the TVHS gym at Naugatuck Thursday night, March 5. The Panthers are top-seeded in the region and came into the postseason ranked No. 2 in the state,
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Lady Panthers headed back to state tournament
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Lady Panthers of Tug Valley are headed back to the West Virginia State basketball tournament after a 59-37 victory over Wirt County in the Class A, Region IV co-championship game March 4 at the TVHS gym at Naugatuck. Last season Tug Valley made it all the way to
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Martin County Cards advance in 15th Region Tournament
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Braxton Keathley and Bryson Dials combined for 65 points to lead Martin County past Betsy Layne 90-69 Feb. 28 in Inez and advance in the 15th Region Tournament. Keathley led the Cardinals with 35 points on 15-of-25 shooting, burying five 3-pointers on 11 attempts. The junior added six rebounds,
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Martin County Cardinals finish as 57th District runner-up
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Martin County, making its fifth straight appearance in the district title game and seeking its fifth consecutive championship, finished as 57th District runner-up for the 2025-26 season. The Cards entered the tournament as the top seed after securing the regular-season title, but fell to Johnson Central 93-79 in the
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First State Bank Player of the Week: Kenleigh Estep
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Kenleigh Estep is the First State Bank Player of the Week. The Martin County seventh-grader made history Feb. 28 for Martin County High School. She became the first female wrestler from the county to place at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Girls State Wrestling Championships. Competing at
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Lady Cards roll past Lady Bulldogs in 15th Region opener
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISA — Behind a dominant double-double from Maci Maynard and steady senior play from Chloe May and Sophie Harless, the Martin County Lady Cardinals defeated the Lawrence County Bulldogs 56-41 in the opening round of the 15th Region tournament Saturday. Postseason basketball often brings familiar faces back across the floor. When
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Braxton Keathley surpasses 3,000-point mark
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Braxton Keathley continues to etch his name into Kentucky high school basketball history. The Martin County superstar surpassed the 3,000-point mark for his varsity career Feb. 26 during the 57th District championship, adding another milestone to an already remarkable résumé. Keathley, a highly coveted Division I recruit and widely
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Estep places fourth KHSAA Girls State Wrestling Championships
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — Martin County High School wrestler Kenleigh Estep made history Saturday in the KHSAA Girls State Wrestling Tournament at Alltech Arena in Lexington. The seventh-grader finished fourth in the state in the 100-pound weight class, becoming the first female from Martin County to place in the state tournament. Estep opened her
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Kristen Isaac to lead Martin County volleyball program
BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A familiar face will lead the Martin County High School volleyball program this fall. Kristen Isaac, a 2020 Martin County graduate and former Lady Cardinals standout, has been hired as the school’s new head volleyball coach, Principal Michelle Harless announced. For Isaac, the opportunity is a return to the
