In Feb.14-20 Issue
In the Kentucky Basketball Association's Middle School Basketball State Tournament played last week and early this week in Lexington, the Russell County Middle School 7th graders advanced to the semi-finals of the 48-team tournament before finishing their season 28-1.

The Lakers, coached by Michael Carpenter and Jason Miller, defeated four teams before losing to Scott County in overtime, 59-50, on Sunday

The RCMS 7^th grade Lakers defeated Lexington Christian Academy late last week to help propel them through the tournament. In that first round game, Tyler Robertson led the Lakers with 15 points while Lucas Whittle scored 10 points. Barton Mann tallied eight points and Nick Britt scored seven.

Jalen Bennett scored six points while Dustin Pierce had four points. The trio of Garrett Stephens, Spencer Roy and Austin Beard had two points apiece.

In the second round game, the Lakers played a tough Hazard squad, defeating them by one point, 44-43.

Both Dustin Pierce and Tyler Robertson scored 14 points apiece in the victory while Nick Britt followed with seven points. Jalen Bennett scored three points while Barton Mann, Garrett Stephens and Lucas Whittle all scored two apiece.

In the third round game last Saturday, the Lakers defeated Elkhorn, 56-42, to advance to the tournament’s final day of play.

Nick Britt led the Lakers in scoring with 16 points, followed closely by Lucas Whittle’s 12 and Tyler Robertson’s 10. Dustin Pierce scored seven while Barton Mann scored six. Jalen Bennett scored three points and Austin Bear scored two points to round out the Lakers scoring.

On Sunday, the Lakers defeated Royal Springs, 61-50, to put them into the tournament’s Final Four. Tyler Robertson led the Lakers in scoring with 19 points, followed by Dustin Pierce’s 12. Nick Britt followed with 15 while Lucas Whittle scored eight points.

The Lakers’ final game ended in defeat, 59-50, but not before the Lakers sent the game into overtime. In the end, Scott County was able to get the nine-point victory.

Six Lakers scored against Scott County, led by Tyler Robertson’s 21. Britt had 10 while Mann scored eight. Whittle and Beard both had four apiece while Bennett managed three points in the game.

The loss was the Lakers only of the season as they finished the season 28-1 while going undefeated in the regular season. It has been a very exciting season. 

“We finished the regular season and conference tournament undefeated and were the 7th grade regular season and tournament champions of the Central Kentucky Middle School Athletic Conference (CKMSAC),” Carpenter said. 

Carpenter said his team had two players on the all tournament team with both Tyler Robertson and Nick Britt receiving honors

“I would just like to thank all the players, parents and the community for their support through out this wonderful season of basketball,” Carpenter said.

He said the RCMS 8th grade team will be traveling to Lexington this Friday to compete in the 8th grade state tournament. 

“We will play our first game on Friday night against Herald Whitaker at 7:30 p.m.,” he said. “This game will take place on Georgetown road at Cunningham gym.”