15TH REGION TOURNAMENT: Cardinals rally past Panthers to claim crown

Martin County turned late Pikeville turnovers into clutch free throws down the stretch and the Cardinals captured the boys’ 15th Region tournament championship, edging the Panthers, 55-53, at the Appalachian Wireless Arena on Monday night.

Martin County, now 24-10, will finally get to play at Rupp Arena. The Cardinals won the region title in 2020, but the tournament was cancelled because of COVID.

Luke Hale finished with a game-high 28 points and Jacob Sturgill added 12.

The Panthers, who saw their season end at 22-8, was led by Rylee Samons and Eli Johnson with 13 points each. Josh Hughes chipped in nine.

Samons, a senior, took a potential game-winning three-point shot as time expired. It rimmed out.

Martin County will play Frederick Douglass on March 17.

At Pikeville

(15th Region championship)

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

PV (22-8)……12 13 16 12 – 53

MC (24-10)…14 10 15 16 – 55

Scoring:

Pikeville (53) – Rylee Samons 2(2) 3-4 13; Eli Johnson 2(2) 3-4 13; Heath Jarrell 2 0-0 4; Josh Hughes 3(1) 0-0 9; Charlie Fitzer 6 0-2 12; and Ian Onskt 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16(5) 6-10 53.

Martin County (55) – Dray Duff 1(1) 1-2 6; Luke Hale 4(3) 11-15 28; Brayden McKenzie 1(2) 1-4 9; Jacob Sturgill 3(2) 0-0 12. Totals: 9(8) 13-21 55.