BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Cardinals hope to turn corner this season

Martin County’s final season as Sheldon Clark didn’t end the way veteran head coach Jason James was hoping.

The 2019-20 season brings a new name and new hope to a program which finished 10-20 one year ago. The Cardinals were bounced by Paintsville in the 57th District tournament opener.

Martin County returns it two top scorers in junior Trey James and senior Braxton Maynard. James average 18 points per game and 11 boards while Maynard scored 12.5 per game.

Add the return of sophomore Brady Dingess, along with senior Ethan Smith-Mills and the road ahead looks bright. Junior Jordan Dalton and senior Braden Walker will be counted on heavily as well.

The Cardinals opened their season on Dec.  3.

Martin County schedule

Dec. 3              Hazard                        Away

Dec.  6             Lawrence County       Home

Dec. 7              Beth Haven                 Home

Dec. 11            Mountain Classic        Away

Harlan at Knott County Central

Dec .17            Perry Central               Home

Dec. 19            King of the Bluegrass Away

TBA at Fairdale

Dec. 27            Traditional Bank         Away

TBA at Lexington Catholic

Jan. 2               Johnson Central          Away

Jan. 4               Knott Central              Away

Jan. 7               Paintsville                    Away

Jan. 10             Magoffin County        Away

Jan. 17             15th Region All ‘A’     Away

Pikeville at Appy Wireless Arena

Jan. 20             East Ridge                  Home

Jan. 22             Floyd Central              Away

Jan. 27             Johnson Central          Home

Feb. 1              Belfry                            Home

Feb. 4              Lawrence County       Away

Feb. 6              Magoffin County        Home

Feb. 8              Jock Sutherland          Away

Somerset at Lafayette

Feb. 11            Shelby Valley             Home

Feb. 14            Paintsville                    Home

Feb. 17            Betsy  Layne               Away

Feb. 18            Prestonsburg               Home

Feb. 20            Pikeville                      Home