Boys’ Sweet 16: Magoffin County runs into Great Crossing ‘buzzsaw’
After seeing its first-round opponent get hot and push its limits, No. 1 Great Crossing did not mess around with Magoffin County in Friday’s UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 quarterfinals in Rupp Arena.
An 8-0 lead from the tip turned into a 31-8 edge after one quarter and a 55-25 gap at halftime.
Then, with a 6-0 run to open the third quarter capped by Jeremiah Godfrey’s midcourt steal and dunk, the Warhawks put up a mercy-rule running clock margin on the Hornets on the way to an 83-48 victory.
“After playing a really, really good Great Crossing team, I feel like one of those oak boards that they run through a buzzsaw at the sawmill,” Magoffin County coach Scott Castle said. “I really believe if they shoot the ball like they did tonight, that they’ve got a chance to be a state champion.”
Four Great Crossing players reached double figures, led by Vince “Tre” Dawson III, who finished with 18. Junius Burrell scored eight of his 12 points during the Warhawks’ first quarter barrage and had eight of Great Crossing’s 22 assists. Gage Richardson scored 15, while 7-foot-1 center Malachi Moreno scored 16 points to go with 15 rebounds and four blocks.
“We could really pressure them and cause the turnovers we did,” Great Crossing coach Steve Page said. “It caused them to play a little faster. … We asked (our players) to have a mature effort, because, obviously, we’re hoping to play two more times.”
Two days earlier in the first round, Spencer County took a seven-point lead in the second half before Great Crossing pulled away. Page attributed that more to Spencer’s style of play, but also noted his team probably felt a little more comfortable Friday at Rupp. Dawson agreed. He made the first shot of the game.
“Shooting is contagious for us,” Dawson said. “Once one of us starts getting the ball through the net, it starts spreading throughout the team.”
HALF. Great Crossing @GCwarhawksbball 55, Magoffin 25. No. 1 put on its press, forced the tempo and hammered the Hornets for 16 minutes. @Malachimoreno24 dunk and @vincedawson24 3 on back-to-back possessions just before break. 2024 Boys’ #KHSAASweet16 pic.twitter.com/5DyCnUlppc
— Jared Peck (@HLpreps) March 22, 2024
Castle praised his team’s effort against the long and athletic Warhawks, who have four starters that go 6-foot-4, 6-5, 6-7 and 7-1.
“We don’t see length like that in the mountains where we’re from. ... You know, Morgan & Morgan (Law Firm) is a big sponsor here at the tournament, and when I looked up at Moreno, I believe I hurt my neck,” Castle joked. “I may reach out … to see if there’s a lawsuit there.”
Magoffin County (22-14) made history this season just by winning its first 15th Region championship and making it to Rupp Arena.
“Who would have thought that we would ever make it to an Elite Eight appearance?” Castle said. “So, you know, give these guys all the credit.”
Walker Russell and Ethan Salyer led Magoffin with 12 points. Region player of the year Aden Barnett scored 11 in his final game. He’s finished with more than 3,500 points in his career and is the Hornets’ all-time leading scorer.
Great Crossing (36-1) rested its starters and top reserves midway through the third quarter with an eye toward playing two games Saturday. The Warhawks were set to face Lyon County, an 80-65 winner over Adair County, in the 11 a.m. semifinals on Saturday. The championship was scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“We’re going to get off our feet and enjoy this one,” Page said. “But as we talked about in the locker room, we didn’t come here to make the final four.”
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