LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – The bright lights and build-up of Magoffin County’s first trip to the Boys’ Sweet 16 did not disappoint, yet it took a Hornets rally in the second half as Magoffin County emerged victorious over Perry County Central 54-47 Wednesday afternoon.
It was history in the making as Magoffin County made their state tournament debut with a sea of maroon-clad Magoffin faithful filling Rupp Arena to witness their team’s achievement.
Both teams tipped off the opening game of the tournament on a torrid pace. 15th Region Player of the Year Aden Barnett started the game with a layup to give Magoffin the lead as the game would be tied five times in the first quarter. Perry Central’s junior center Carter Castle would tie the game at the buzzer 13-13 with a jumper to end the period. Both teams combined to shoot 10-for-17 from the field early on.
Castle would breakthrough again to start the second quarter with a layup to give the Commodores their first lead of the game 15-13 at the 7:51 mark. Perry would quench Magoffin’s hot start forcing the Hornets to shoot 3-of-11 in the period as a pair of free throws by Castle with 0:06 left gave Perry Central a 25-19 lead at the break.
The Commodores maintained an arm’s-length lead in the third quarter between four and seven points before Magoffin County senior center Zane Whitaker made good on a layup and a tip-in off a miss from Ethan Salyer to cut the Perry Central lead to 38-35 by the end of the quarter.
Magoffin County grabbed the lead back on a Walker Russell layup with 6:36 left to play in the game. Following a Perry Central turnover, Salyer made good on a layup to extend the Hornets lead to 41-38.
Perry Central’s Mason Sumner would sink a 3-pointer to tie the game at 41-41 with 5:01 remaining.
Next trip down court, the Hornets Zane Whitaker would be fouled by Castle with the result being two made tosses for Whitaker, giving the Hornets the lead back for good 43-41 and start a 6-0 run as Barnett would pick up a fastbreak layup followed by jumper with 3:08 to play leading 47-41.
The Commodores cut the lead to four on a Trayten Woods basket with 2:44 on the clock, but would not get any closer as the 14th Region champs fell 54-47.
The drought continues for the 14th Region as it’s now been 68-years since Carr Creek High School brought a state championship back to the 14th.
Barnett finished with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting to lead the Hornets in scoring. Russell scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Zane Whitaker tossed in 13 points lead the team with eight rebounds.
Castle and Woods each scored 14 points for Perry Central.
Magoffin County will face the winner of Great Crossing and Spencer County in Friday’s quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Great Crossing entered the tournament as the number 1-ranked team by media and statewide coaches’ polls.
PERRY CO. CENTRAL (47) – Castle 5, 4-4 14. Slone 3 3-4 9. Woods 6 (1) 1-2 14. Neace 2 (1) 2-2 7. Sumner 1 (1) 3. Bakun 0. Miller 0.
FG Pct.: 39.5%. FT Pct.: 83.3%. 3-PT: 3-16 (Castle 0-1, Woods 1-9, Neace 1-4, Sumner 1-2). Fouls 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds 24. Assists 10. Turnovers 12.
MAGOFFIN COUNTY (54) – Russell 6 2-2 14. Z. Whitaker 4 (1) 4-4 13. Barnett 10 4-4 24. G. Whitaker 0. Salyer 1 1-2 3. Sammons 0. Meadows 0.
FG Pct.: 46.7%. FT Pct.: 91.7%. 3-PT: 1-7 (Russell 0-3, Z. Whitaker 1-1, Barnett 0-1, G. Whitaker 0-1, Salyer 0-1). Fouls 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds 26. Assists 6. Turnovers 10.
