Malachi Moreno, Great Crossing Defeat Male in Dramatic Second Half Comeback
The Dan Cummins Classic was scheduled to be where Kentucky commit Travis Perry and #1 Lyon County flexed their talents at Scott County. Lyon County was initially scheduled to play Woodford County first in the event. However, the extreme weather in Central Kentucky caused their game to be canceled. Thus leaving #2 Great Crossing to bring the star power to the event.
Luckily for all of those in attendance, the trio of Malachi Moreno, Vince Dawson, and Junius Burrell showed up to ball out.
Second-ranked Great Crossing and #15 Louisville Male squared off in the second matchup of the Dan Cummins Classic. All eyes were on 2025 four-star Kentucky target Malachi Moreno as he suited up for the Warhawks. Moreno and the Warhawks trotted out in their signature blue and green striped warmups, with the seven-footer drawing all the eyes within the gym. He spent this week being busy as Moreno sat behind the UK bench in their dismantling of Mississippi State on Tuesday.
However, on Saturday night, the seven-footer had to worry about a different team from Louisville. The Male Bulldogs have enjoyed a solid year thus far, winning 12 of their 17 games throughout the campaign. Male has struggled to defeat their more formidable opponents, though, as they entered Saturday recovering from a loss to St. X by eight.
Great Crossing’s big three had the Warhawks entering with an 18-1 record, with their only loss coming out of state. For most, Great Crossing was the best team in the state (if not second), and Male represented another excellent test for the blue and green to prove their dominance in the state.
First half struggles
From the opening tip, it is evident that Louisville Male was looking to make an example out of Great Crossing. They jumped out to a 14-10 lead after a quarter, as Male junior Keshawn Jordan played tough in the paint, causing the Warhawks problems.
However, sophomore Cole Edelen was the main star of the show. The point guard controlled every aspect of the game and knocked down multiple threes in the first half. Great Crossing continued to fight for baskets as junior Vince Dawson fought for mid-range jumpers and lay-ups for the Warhawks. The half was summed up with an Edelen pull-up three to send Male into the break with a nine-point advantage. Even more impressive, Edelen knocked down a pull-up to end the FIRST quarter as well.
Great Crossing Coach Steve Page spoke on Edelen after the game, saying “He had 26 points and five assists, he’s a huge part of what they do, we knew it going in. He shoots nine threes a game, and I told my kids, you gotta minimize him because he’s going to make shots.” Another message Page had at the half was for the Warhawks to get tougher. “I told them if they don’t get as tough as Male, then we’re not gonna win. It was about as simple of a message as can be; it was probably a little louder than that.” Page said through a smile that was presumably absent at the half.
Here come the Warhawks
As soon as Great Crossing emerged from the red and white tunnel, it seemed as though a fire was stuck closely to their backsides. With the nine-point deficit, people were begging to wonder if an upset could be brewing behind Edelen’s cold-blooded shooting.
However, Moreno emerged with a new-found intensity within the game, finding his spots on offense for Great Crossing. His attitude led to two massive dunks for himself to begin the third quarter; he nearly postered a Bulldog for the third but was fouled in the process.
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The big play came late in the third quarter. Moreno had been dominating the three quarters with rim protection, but the offensive glass was beginning to open up. He rose for an offensive rebound, then put the ball in with a foul to bring the Warhawks within a possession.
Great Crossing’s big three
After the game, Moreno spoke on what Coach had told them at halftime. “We came to the locker room. They said that we need to work a little harder on the defensive and offensive glass. And it was really just all about whether we had the heart or not to win the game. So that was our main focal point. And I thought if I could start it off with a couple of dunks, then that was the spark in our team to help us get the win.”
This spark led to Great Crossing outscoring Male by 11 in the second half and holding on for a 65-63 victory for the Warhawks.
A Male three at the buzzer made the score a bit closer than it was, but it was a great game nonetheless. Great Crossing junior Junius Burrell was terrific in the game, scoring 15 points, including multiple big buckets down the stretch. Moreno finished with 19 and 12, and Dawson added 14 and four rebounds. The big three showed why they are one of the best in the entire state and why they are one of the most feared teams in Kentucky.
Moreno and Kentucky
As previously mentioned, Malachi Moreno is one of the central Kentucky targets within the 2025 class. He’s ranked No. 41 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Moreno was thought to be a skilled big with a lot to improve on last year. Now, he’s seen as a top-25 player in the class (On3’s own rankings have him at No. 21) and a significant player who can legitimately play with top competition. He told KSR’s Phoenix Stevens last month that Kentucky, Indiana, Auburn, Alabama, and Notre Dame were his leading recruiters, to name a few. However, some steam has picked up for Kentucky, so KSR asked Moreno what he thinks of playing with talent like what the Wildcats have each year.
“Well, I think I could just with my passing ability, with the way I impact games, not many times you see a seven-footer that can move like me or pass like me. So I hope to help out any teammates I have and get a win every time I play.”
He also said that he watches current Wildcat Aaron Bradshaw and former Wildcat Anthony Davis as inspirations for his game. It seems as though Travis Perry and Moreno could follow Reed Sheppard in the track to bring in-state players back to the Wildcats.
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