Mayfield High School Sinks Buzzer-Beater 12 Days After Deadly Tornadoes

In the wake of a devastating storm, the Mayfield boys’ basketball team is giving the small Western Kentucky town something to cheer for.

Tornadoes ravaged the region Dec. 10, cutting through more than 165 miles of terrain and flattening most of the city of Mayfield. Through the rubble, the people of Mayfield have persevered. With cleanup efforts underway, Mayfield is moving forward. Wednesday night the town got a much-needed victory.

The Mayfield Cardinals boys’ basketball team returned to action this week at the Agrigold Christmas Tournament. Playing their third game in two days at the Owensboro SportsCenter, the Cardinals needed a little luck and a lot of skill to knock off North Bullitt.

The Eagles were sent to the free throw line with one and the bonus and a one-point lead. They missed the front end, corralled the rebound and were fouled again. Fortune was in Mayfield’s favor. North Bullitt missed another front end. The Cardinals corralled the board and set up one final play. With 1.8 seconds remaining, Brayden Pate got an open look from the corner and beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to knock off North Bullitt 53-51.

BRAYDEN PATE AT THE BUZZER!

BBK FINAL: Mayfield 53 Bullitt Central 51 pic.twitter.com/2HQDL3oyES

— Keith Jaco | Messenger (@kjacoMessenger) December 22, 2021

An uplifting victory, it’s exactly what the city of Mayfield needed.

“I’m not going to lie, I was very emotional because of what’s gone on within our community over the last two weeks,” head coach Payton Croft told Keith Jaco of The Mayfield Messenger.

“Whatever gets in our way, we’re going to find a way to use it to make us stronger as a team. These guys have been through it, so for them to continue to fight and hang in there at the end and execute that play, that’s special stuff. This group of kids deserves it, I couldn’t be any more proud for them.”

Mayfield’s next game will be against Dawson Springs Dec. 29 at Henderson County High School. There are a variety of ways you can assist those communities and more. The Kentucky United fundraising initiative with the Red Cross has raised almost $4.7 million and the KSR Tornado Relief fundraiser with the Kentucky Chamber is now over $780,000.

[The Mayfield Messenger]