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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
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Martin County JAG KY students advance to nationals; quartet captures fourth straight state title
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT LEXINGTON — In a ballroom filled with buzzers, business plans and polished speeches, a delegation from Martin County found itself center stage. Eleven students from Martin County High School competed Feb. 24-25 at the Jobs for America’s Graduates Kentucky Career Development Conference in Lexington, with eight advancing to next month’s national competition.
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Martin County wrestling finishes 1A runner-up; Muncy named Coach of the Year
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — Martin County arrived at the 2026 KHSAA State Wrestling Tournament with purpose and left with pride. The Cardinals claimed 1A State Runner-Up honors, placed three wrestlers on the podium, finished among the top 10 teams overall and saw coach Josh Muncy named the Coach of the Year at










