BLOWOUTS IN THE BIG HOUSE: Pulaski sweeps Somerset in doubleheader

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County senior Gavin Cook (11) gets fouled by Somerset junior Kole Grundy (left) on a three-point attempt during the Maroons' 70-46 victory over the Jumpers on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

SOMERSET - Anytime the Pulaski County Maroons and the Somerset Briar Jumpers get together it is a good time. Couple that with the fact that this was the only scheduled doubleheader between the two teams this season, along with the fact that the last time these two met in the "Big House" it was in last year's boys' regional finals, and the atmosphere was ripe for some entertaining ball games.

Well, someone didn't get that memo to the Maroons, as they cruised to blowout wins in both contests to sweep their arch rivals.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County juniors Madeline Butcher (right) and Hannah Murray (left) attempt to steal the ball from Somerset seventh grader Nora Grider (center) during the Maroons' 70-16 victory over the Jumpers on Friday.

The girls started out the night, and with Somerset's leading scorer Sophie Barnes out due to injury, things looked bleak for the Lady Jumpers. Madeline Butcher had the first four points of the night and the Maroons were quickly off to the races in this one. Following a three from Taylen Ralston, an offensive rebound and two from Hannah Murray and a three from Lilee Todd, all of a sudden Pulaski was ahead 13-0 and forced the first timeout of the evening for Somerset.

Thins went from bad to worse following a three from Butcher and a traditional three-point play from Todd, as Pulaski led 21-0 midway through the quarter. Following another five straight points from Butcher, that lead was up to 28-0 and the running clock was close to activating very early in the ball game. Serenity Haynes finally broke the visitors onto the scoreboard with a pair of free throws late, but after two from Bella Stevens the lead for the home team stood at 30-2 heading into the second period.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County senior Taylen Ralston (1) attempts to pass the ball to an open teammate while near the baseline during the Maroons' victory over the Jumpers on Friday night.

The young guns for the Maroons got a lot of run in the second quarter, with Caroline Heist and Malia Bullock combining for the first nine points of the period. Luci Haught became the second Jumper to score with, again, a pair of free throws, but after baskets from Bullock and Scarlett Anderson the Maroons were out in front by a ton at the break at 43-4.

The running clock was active for the entire second half, making it a very quick half of basketball. Ralston began the third with a three, before both Haynes and McKenzie Pyles each hit one of two from the charity stripe. Maci Huff finally gave the Jumpers their first field goal of the contest with her shot from inside the paint, giving Somerset as many points as they had in the first half early on in the third.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset junior McKenzie Pyles (15) shoots a three-pointer over the top of defense from Pulaski County eighth grader Kate Miller (12) during the Jumpers' loss to the Maroons on the road on Friday.

Ralston nailed another three before the younger players once again took the court for the home team. Heist was able to hit another basket before Nora Grider went two for two from the line. Gracyn Cook had two late in the quarter before another basket was made by Heist, giving Pulaski a 57-10 edge heading into the final period.

Cook had the first basket of the fourth before a three from Heist. Huff answered back with a traditional three-point play, which was followed immediately after by a three from Haught. Pulaski scored the final eight points of the game though, with Anderson having five of those eight and Anna Ross hitting a three, as Pulaski celebrated a regular season sweep of Somerset by a final score of 70-16.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County freshman Lilee Todd (24) attempts to finish with a layup near the basket during the game between the Lady Maroons and the Somerset Lady Jumpers on Friday.

Butcher led the way for the Lady Maroons with 14 points. Other scorers included Heist with 11, Ralston and Todd with nine apiece, Bullock and Anderson with seven apiece, Cook and Murray with four apiece, Ross with three and Stevens with two. Pulaski improves to 13-5 and will be back in action on Saturday morning, where they will take on the Madison Southern Lady Eagles at Rockcastle County in the Rocket Classic.

Haught and Huff each had five points apiece to lead the Lady Jumpers, while Haynes had three, Grider had two and Pyles had one. Somerset falls to 4-11 and will be on the road again on Monday to take on Berea.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County junior Seth Farmer reacts after making a play during the Maroons' victory over Somerset on Friday night.

It was then time for the boys to take the court in a rematch of last year's 12th Region championship game, albeit without Aedyn Absher and Carson Fraley, two of the better players in the region. Josh Bruner scored the first two of the ball game before it was quickly answered on the other end by three the hard way from Kade Hargis. A basket from Ethan Idlewine was traded by Landen Lonesky's two made free throws as the game was close early on. After back-to-back three-pointer from Gavin Cook, Somerset head coach Ryan Young was visibly frustrated and called for a timeout.

Lonesky responded out of the timeout with a made basket in the paint, before Zak Anderson got in on the three-point party with a made shot from long range of his own. Lonesky continued his early dominance with another two made free throws following an offensive rebound, before a three from Brock Stevens trimmed the Pulaski lead down to three points. Cook continued to, well, cook with another made three, and the senior was fouled on a three as well late in the quarter and made all three shots from the line, giving his team a 20-13 lead after the first eight minutes.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset freshman Brock Stevens (right) steals the ball from Pulaski County junior Seth Farmer (left) during the Jumpers' contest against the Maroons on Friday.

Idlewine opened the second with a pair of free throws, before Blake Fraley's layup forced another Somerset timeout. After a three from Hargis and a made basket inside by Seth Farmer, the Maroons' lead had ballooned to 29-13. After another made basket from Lonesky, Nish Patel was fouled on a three and hit all three from the stripe.

A 6-0 Pulaski scoring spree, with Cook, Fraley and Kam Measel all scoring two, gave the home team their biggest lead of the game so far at 21 points, forcing another Somerset timeout. Somerset was able to chip into that lead heading into the break however, as they closed on a 7-1 run with Josh Lewis hitting a three-pointer. Pulaski was still well ahead at half though at 39-24.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County sophomore Kade Hargis (21) attempts to finish at the basket past the defense of Somerset junior Kole Grundy (right) during the Maroons' contest at home against the Jumpers.

Farmer opened the second half with a big basket inside, with Lonesky soon continuing his strong performance at the charity stripe with two more makes. Farmer drilled a three to once again send the lead to 20 points, before Isaiah Lewis was able to answer on the other end with a three of his own. It became a free throw fest midway through the period as both teams were over the limit, with both teams only able to hit one of two from the line in most cases. Jakob Bartley controlled the paint with a two shortly before the buzzer, with a half-court heave from Measel just barely missing its mark as the Maroons held a 51-34 lead heading into the final period of action.

Two more free throws from Lonesky led to a Pulaski timeout by head coach John Fraley, with Idlewine able to answer with a traditional three-point play out of the break. Stevens hit a three to bring the Somerset portion of the crowd to life once again, but after two from Anderson as well as Fraley, the Maroons had firm control of the ball game as they were up by 21 points midway through the fourth.

Pulaski closed the ball game on a 8-1 run, with Cook, Farmer, Idlewine and Brady Blakenship all scoring late. The Maroons were able to hold serve without their starting point guard Carson Fraley and prevailed by a final score of 71-46.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County junior Seth Farmer (right) looks to finish over the top of Somerset senior Landen Lonesky (14) during the game between the Maroons and the Briar Jumpers on Friday.

Cook led the way for the Maroons with a game-high 17 points. Other scorers included Idlewine with 12, Hargis with 11, Farmer with nine, Anderson with eight, Blake Fraley with six, Measel and Patel with three apiece and Blakenship with two. Pulaski improves to 10-6 and will be back in action on Saturday, as they travel to Rockcastle County to take on McCreary Central for the second time this season in the Rocket Classic.

Lonesky led the Jumpers with 12 points. Other scorers included Bartley with eight, Bruner with seven, Stevens with six, and Josh Lewis with five. Somerset falls to 8-8 and will be back in action at home on Monday against the Corbin Redhounds.

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