Great Crossing Destroys Magoffin County 83-48 in Sweet 16, Advances to Semifinals

The first quarterfinal game of the KHSAA High School Boys’ Sweet 16 on Friday was done in blowout fashion. The top-ranked Warhawks from Great Crossing defeated the Magoffin County Hornets 83-48 in Rupp Arena, securing a spot in Saturday’s semifinals.

From the jump, there was little question as to who would be moving on to the final day of play between the two teams. The Warhawks took an early 15-5 lead with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, Great Crossing led 31-8 as four-star recruit Malachi Moreno had already pulled down seven rebounds and scored eight points. With the Hornets’ tallest player coming in at 6-foot-3, it was going to be a tall task to keep the 6-foot-11 junior Georgetown native away from the rim.

Despite the 10-point first-quarter deficit, that would actually be as close as Magoffin County would get to the Warhawks for the remainder of the game. By the five-minute mark in the second quarter, Great Crossing still led 40-15 thanks to Moreno’s 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Magoffin never gave up on the play but by halftime, they trailed 55-23. Great Crossing had four players in double-digits by the time both teams were in the locker room. A running clock was soon implemented.

Coming out of halftime, Warhawks’ senior Vince Dawson found the first basket of the second half to put his team even further ahead. With four minutes left in the third, a whole new set of players were subbed in for Great Crossing’s starting five as they led 71-33.

None of the starters for the Warhawks stepped back on the court for the remainder of the game and the team walked away heading to the Sweet 16 semifinals with the dominating 83-48 victory.

Kentucky target Malachi Moreno speaks on getting to see his teammates in the game doing well following the Warhawk’s big quarterfinal victory over Magoffin@GCwarhawksbball pic.twitter.com/IWmmkDMJZe

— katelyn perkins (@KPerkinsKSR) March 22, 2024

Three of Magoffin County’s players ended the day in double-digits but the size and depth of the Warhawks was too steady throughout the match up for the Hornets.

Four of Great Crossing’s players finished with 12 or more points after not even playing a full 20 minutes of basketball. Dawson led the way with 18 while Moreno had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks in the win after only playing 19 minutes.

Up next, the No. 1 Warhawks will play on Saturday, March 23, at 11:00 a.m. EST in the first semifinal of the Sweet 16. Great Crossing will play the winner of No. 3 Lyon County and Adair County.