Martin County ended Pikeville’s dominance of the boys’ 15th Region All “A” Classic tournament as the Cardinals defeated the Panthers, 72-70, in the championship game played at the Arena on Saturday night.
The Cardinals ran their current winning streak to 12 straight games while improving to 14-2.
Pikeville, which had won the two previous tournament titles and was the defending state champ, dropped to 10-5.
The Panthers led the game 63-58 with four minutes remaining before the Cardinals rallied down the stretch.
Brayden McKenzie led Martin County’s balanced scoring attack with 20 points. Matt Lineville finished with 14 and Luke Hale net 12.
Rylee Samons fired in a game-high 36 points to pace Pikeville. Charlie Fitzer followed with 16 and Eli Johnson tossed in 10.
Martin County will face Harlan in the opening round of the state tournament in Richmond on Jan. 26
At Pikeville
(All ‘A’ Classic championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
MC (14-2)…15 15 19 23 – 72
PK (10-5)….13 18 21 18 – 70
Scoring:
Martin County (72) – Dray Duff 3 3-4 9; Luke Hale 2(1) 5-6 12; Brayden McKenzie 8(1) 1-1 20; Jacob Sturgell 1(1) 1-2 6; Matt Lineville 3(2) 2-2 14; Peyton Davis 3 1-2 7; and Blake Maynard 2 0-0 4. Totals: 22(5) 13-17 72.
Pikeville(70) – Eli Johnson 4 2-3 10; Ian Onkst 3 0-0 6; Rylee Samons 8(6) 2-4 36; Josh Hughes 0 2-2 2; and Charlie Fitzer 6 4-6 16. Totals: 21(6) 10-15 70.