By Linda Jones
Wayne County Boys Middle School Basketball programs are hard to beat! They have been giving their best all season and are recently making news, especially the Seventh Grade Boys Team, who just returned home from Lexington where they had the honor of making it to the Final Four at the 2024 Kentucky Basketball Commission (KBC) Seventh Grade State Tournament.
After a winning season with an impressive record of 26-5, the local seventh graders were more than motivated to succeed at the three-day state contest that featured the top 68 teams from across the state.
“They played with their hearts and guts,” said Boys Seventh Grade Head Basketball Coach Matt Rice. “They play great with each other and depend on each other. They’ve played together since they were in second grade between school and AAU teams.”
On Friday, February 16, the state meet began. Wayne defeated Russell County 49-34. Then on Saturday, February 17, Wayne won the next game 45-34 against Clay County. The same day, one of the most exciting games happened when the Cards came from behind and defeated Knox County 42-34. On Sunday, February 18, the seventh graders went the distance playing three games. In the first game, Tate Bertram hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to narrowly beat Graves County 36-33. Next, they defeated E.S. Hayes 48-44.
The boys made it all the way to the Final Four games playing Hindman, but barely fell short with a score of 42-48, while South Laurel was playing Ashland. In the final game, Hindman defeated Ashland and were named State Champions.
The seventh graders had also gotten a taste of winning at the 12th Region Tournament recently held at Rockcastle Middle School on February 17. In addition, they were also named Runner-Up at the KBC Invitational back in November.
The Eighth Grade Boys Basketball Team are headed to state this weekend (Feb. 24) after being named 12th Region Runner-Ups on February 17 at Rockcastle Middle School.
“We are hoping they will make it to the Final Four, as well,” said Coach Matt Ric
