PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – It took a 100-point effort to break 100 years of waiting for the Magoffin County Hornets to finally be crowned 15th Region Boys champions on Monday night.
Fans in Magoffin County have been waiting 100 years to celebrate a regional boys’ basketball championship since their first season of competition as Salyersville High School in 1924.
The wait is finally over.
15th Region Player of the Year Aiden Barnett scored 34 points in the breakthrough victory as the Hornets defeated defending region champion Martin County 67-57.
Barnett scored a total of 100 points in three games at Appalachian Wireless Arena as the Hornets had reached the finals for only the fourth time ever as a school and their first time since 1996.
Magoffin inflated their one-point lead at the end of the first quarter to 12 in the second.
After two made free throws by Martin County senior Jacob Sturgill, senior guard Ethan Salyer knocked down a 3-pointer to give Magoffin the lead by four at 21-17 with 5:52 to play before halftime.
Barnett connected on a long bomb to push the lead to 24-17, followed by a block on the other end from senior Zane Whitaker, setting up an easy transition basket for Barnett to increase the lead to nine at 26-17.
With 2:49 left in the second, senior Grayson Whitaker fired a 3-pointer off a fast break to give the Hornets a 29-17 lead. They would take a 30-19 lead to the locker room.
Martin County battled cold shooting the entire night, yet Cardinal sophomore Devan Maynard sliced the Hornet lead to one at 44-43 with 7:30 left to play in the fourth quarter.
Magoffin County would answer with a bucket from Barnett, followed by a free throw giving the Hornets a 47-43 lead. Russell connected on a basket after a miss by Sturgill to push the lead to six at 49-43 with 6:41 left.
Both teams would trade baskets until Russell sank a pair of free throws to increase the lead to eight at 57-49 with 3:29 left.
Magoffin County would hit 13-of-15 free throws in the final period to keep Martin County at bay for the 67-57 win.
Senior Luke Hale struggled from the field for the Cardinals shooting 4-of-13, while seniors Brayden McKenzie and Sturgill also misfired for most of the night, shooting 5-of-11 and 5-of-16 respectfully.
Magoffin County (21-13) will face Perry County Central (22-13) in the Boys’ Sweet 16 Tournament on March 20th at 11 a.m. at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
MAGOFFIN CO. (67) – Russell 5 6-6 16. Barnett 9 (2) 14-16 34. G. Whitaker 2 (1) 1-2 6. Salyer 1 (1) 1-2 4. Z. Whitaker 2 1-2 5. Meadows 1 2. Sammons 0.
FG Pct.: 58.8. FT Pct.: 82.1. 3-PT 4-12 (Barnett 2-5, G. Whitaker 1-5, Salyer 1-2). Rebounds 28. Fouls 11. Fouled out: none. Turnovers 14. Assists 13.
MARTIN CO. (57) – Hale 4 (1) 4-4 13. McKenzie 5 (1) 1-1 12. Davis 3 (2) 1-2 9. Sturgill 5 2-2 12. Maynard 3 (1) 1-2 8. Dials 1 (1) 3. Estep 0. Mills 0. Moore 0.
FG Pct.: 37.5. FT Pct.: 81.8. 3-PT 6-18 (Hale 1-4, McKenzie 1-1, Davis 2-5, Sturgill 0-2, Maynard 1-3, Dials 1-3). Rebounds 23. Fouls 20. Fouled out: Sturgill. Turnovers 9. Assists 17.
All-Tournament Team:
Logan Ratliff – Lawrence Co.
Carter Parsons – Betsy Layne
Braden Moore – Floyd Central
Jaden Stewart – Pike Co. Central
Eli Johnson – Pikeville
Carter Hurley – Pikeville
Austin Slone – Johnson Central
Brayden Shepherd – Johnson Central
Jacob Sturgill – Martin Co.
Brayden McKenzie – Martin Co.
Luke Hale – Martin Co.
Ethan Salyer – Magoffin Co.
Walker Russell – Magoffin Co.
Grayson Whitaker – Magoffin Co.
Zane Whitaker – Magoffin Co.
Aiden Barnett of Magoffin County named Tournament MVP.
