The Middle School boys basketball team defeated Model 43-29 in the finals of the Floyd County Middle School Association tournament to cap an undefeated season and win the league championship. The team finished with a record of 17-0 for the season.
"This win marks the 4th time in six years that the boys have won the championship, but this year is the first time they have finished with an undefeated record," said head coach Kevin Ivester ('87).
In the final game, Jay Shadday led the scoring with 15 points, while Landon Rice added 9. Will Sparks went 6 for 7 from the free throw line for his 6 points. Drake Frix played the role of defensive stopper and also put in 6 points. Connor Land finished with 4 points and Bob Ledbetter added 3.
After leading the entire game, Darlington put the game away in the fourth quarter with outstanding defense, holding the Blue Devils to only 2 points for the quarter and outscoring them 10-2.
“This was just an incredible group of guys who played as a team as well as any I’ve had," Ivester said. "These guys shared the ball and were unselfish. We were incredibly balanced with great play both inside and outside. This is the best defensive team we have had so we were able to turn that defense into offense and really get out on the fast break."
Ivester added that this year's team was a joy to coach because every member of the team did things the right way, both on and off the floor. "These are great kids," he said. "They are a great representation of what a Darlington student-athlete should be. Coach Pieroni and I are extremely proud of what they accomplished this year and very happy that they got to experience a championship season with their friends.”
The other eighth-graders on the team are Hunter Manning, Jake Walker, Carter Dingler and Jake Maxwell. The seventh-graders are Gamble Shadday, Hollis Ledbetter, Elijah McKoy, Skyler Sledge and Zach Kadum.
