Cardinals defeat Bulldogs 75-72

STAFF REPORT

BSN

INEZ — Prevailing in a matchup between boys’ high school basketball region title contenders, Martin County defeated Hazard 75-72 on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Martin County shot 50.9 percent (28-of-55) from the field. The Cardinals shot 42.9 percent (six-of-14) from three-point range.

Reigning 15th Region champion Martin County shot 68.4 percent (13-of-19) from the free throw line.

Luke Hale poured in a game-high 32 points to lead Martin County to the win. Hale made three of six three-point field goal attempts.

Along with Hale reaching double figures for Martin County, Devan Maynard scored 17 points and Jacob Sturgell netted 13 points.

Five players accounted for all of Martin County’s scoring. Bryson Dials added eight points for the Cardinals while Brayden McKenzie contributed five points.

Hazard shot 50 percent (30-of-60) from the field. The Bulldogs made six of 21 three-point field goal attempts.

Hazard, a contender for the 14th Region boys’ basketball title, shot 75 percent (six-of-eight) from the free throw line.

Evin Eversole scored 27 points to lead the Bulldogs. Eversole connected on seven of seven shot attempts from inside the arc.

Accompanying Eversole in double figures for Hazard, Seth Caudill scored 14 points and Nick Ratliff netted 13 points.

Ratliff logged a double-double, claiming 10 rebounds.

Seven different players broke into Hazard’s scoring column.

Kenyon Higgins, who grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for Hazard, tallied eight points.

Following Higgins, Daulton Combs (six points), Trace Kincaid (two points) and Tucker Johnson (two points) accounted for the rest of Hazard’s scoring.