Great Crossing makes second straight Sweet 16 Semifinals with 49-36 win over Cooper

Last season, Great Crossing was the favorite to win the KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16. However, they were upset by Travis Perry and Lyon County in the Semifinals. With a win over Cooper on Friday night, the Warhawks could get back to the state tournament’s final four for the second consecutive year, but of course, the Jaguars didn’t make the trip to Rupp Arena to lay down and surrender.

However, Great Crossing would get the 49-36 win behind 13 points, 16 rebounds, and seven blocks from Kentucky signee Malachi Moreno. Warhawks guard Vince Dawson, who is committed to play at Morehead State, added 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Great Crossing didn’t shoot the ball well (40.9 FG%, 1-10 3PT) but was able to hold Cooper to just 29.2 percent shooting as a team.

Things were back and forth to start the game, but an 8-3 advantage on the glass helped Great Crossing get out to a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Moreno’s 7-foot-1 frame on the inside was imposing and hard to score on, to say the least. Three of his rejections came in the first eight minutes of play alone.

Quarter number two saw more of the same thing — the Warhawks absolutely dominating when it came to rebounding the basketball. By halftime, Great Crossing had reeled in 18 rebounds to just six from Cooper. Additionally, the Jaguars were only 7-21 (33%) from the field, allowing GC to get out to a 22-16 lead at the break.

It was a 36-28 lead for Great Crossing following the third quarter, and Steve Page’s group did just enough to hang, winning the fourth quarter 13-8 en route to their 33rd victory of the season. The Warhawks are now 149-48 (.756) under Page’s leadership.

Next up, Great Crossing will take on No. 15 Montgomery County in the semifinals with tipoff scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. If they can best the Indians, they’ll advance to their first state title game in the program’s brief six-year history.