New-look Wildcats net three wins in opening week

By: Sam McClanahan

The new era of Pendleton County Wildcats basketball has begun and the team is off to its best start since 2019 under new coach Mason Monroe.

The Wildcats scored victories in their first three games including a pair of blowout wins over St. Patrick and Bracken County, as well as going on road to defeat Holmes high school for the first time since 2005.

On November 27, Pendleton County tipped off its season in Maysville taking on St. Patrick. This contest would be all Wildcats as they rolled 91-40. Wildcats senior guard Alex Beyst exploded for 20 points (all in the second quarter) to lead the way for his squad. Fellow seniors Austin Kirsch and Hunter Cox added 15 and 12 points respectively while junior Luke Gregg added nine. Collectively, the team shot a blistering 61 percent from the field during the contest.

On November 28, the team ventured north to Covington looking to pick up their first road win of the season. In a highly-competitive matchup, Pendleton County and Holmes would battle evenly throughout the first half with the Bulldogs taking a 32-31 halftime lead into the locker room. To begin the third quarter, Wildcats junior point guard Aden Merrill got things going for Pendleton County as he scored on a driving layup and drained back-to-back three-pointers to notch a quick eight points while giving his team the lead. Pendleton County would begin the fourth quarter with a 49-46 lead that it would not surrender. Balanced scoring would allow the Wildcats to grow their lead as well as clutch free throws in the closing minutes. The Wildcats went onto claim a 67-57 win while besting Holmes for the first time in 18 years. Five Wildcats reached double-figures as Merril led with 16, followed by Beyst with 15. Hunter Cox would finish with 14 and senior Hunter Jack along with Austin Kirsch totaled 10 each. 

The Wildcats hosted border rival Bracken County in the home opener on November 30 and with a spirited home crowd behind them the team was able to score a 77-40 lopsided win to make it three in a row. The two clubs traded baskets during the first quarter and Pendleton County took a 17-13 lead into the start of the second quarter. From here it would be all Wildcats as they outscored Bracken 23-6 in the period to lead 40-19 with Hunter Jack putting the exclamation point on the half with a three-pointer as time expired. Pendleton County continued to dominate during the second half and would pull away with its most lopsided win over Bracken County in six years. Pendleton County would be led in scoring by Luke Gregg, who laced four three-pointers and finished with 16 points. Merrill would add 14 and Cox along with Jack added nine each.

The team concluded its week on December 2 as they traveled to Great Crossing High School in Georgetown to take part in the Jersey Mike's Classic. Their opponent would be Franklin County from the 11th Region and this contest would result in a lopsided defeat for the Wildcats. Franklin County used a very effective pressing defense early and often during the game resulted in turnovers and inefficient offense for Pendleton County. Franklin County would enjoy a 48-21 halftime lead and go onto claim a 77-35 victory over Pendleton County. Alex Beyst would be the lone Wildcat to reach double-figures as he scored 12 points. 

Following the game, Coach Monroe expressed plenty of satisfaction in how his team performed during its opening week.

"There's a lot of positives to take away from these first four games. I love the effort and focus the guys are playing with and how they're working together. We want to build off of these things going forward," he said.

Pendleton County will next travel to face Fleming County on December 5 followed by a December 7 contest at defending 10th Region champion and state-runner up George Rogers Clark. The team concludes its week in Maysville taking on Manchester, OH in the Mike Murphy Classic held at Mason County High School.