In the second session of day three of the Whitaker Bank KHSAA Boy’s Sweet Sixteen the Bowling Green Purples faced first year school McCracken County in the quarterfinals. Bowling Green defeated Knott County Central to advance and McCracken County defeated Wayne County to set up the quarterfinal match up.
Bowling Green’s pressure defense bothered McCracken County during most of the game even after coach Brower’s adjustments McCracken County still committed 15 turnovers compared to Bowling Green’s five.
When the Mustangs did beat the Bowling Green pressure they found open shooters and made the Purples pay hitting four 3 point baskets giving them a 6 point lead. The Mustangs shot 36% from the floor in the first half and 44% from beyond the 3 point arc as for the Purples they shot a cold 28% from the field and 43% from 3 point land. The biggest lead for Bowling Green was 7 in the second quarter at 3:35 and 6 for the Mustangs with 52 seconds remaining in the first half leading to a 25-21 score in favor of the Mustangs.
In the third quarter Bowling Green fought back with the 3 ball turned the momentum, took the lead and never trailed again.Back to back 3’s by Kentucky National Guard Player of the Game Tucker Sine gave the Purple’s a 48-44 lead. Sine finished the contest with 19 points with most of them coming from the free throw stripe (11-14). After going 0 for 5 in the first half Sine kept shooting and the Purples fans were happy Sine did. Sine also had 5 rebounds.
#14 Malik Carothers then put the dagger in the Mustangs heart with a 3 with 1:48 left in the game to put the Purples up by 10. McCracken County’s Sergio Vega answered with his own 3 Â cutting the lead back down to 4 with 4.5 seconds left in the contest but it was too little too late for the Mustangs.
The final score Bowling Green 64 McCracken County 58.For the game Bowling Green shot 41% from the field and 55% from 3 point land. McCracken County shot 44% from the field and 54% from 3 point land.
Helping Sine with the offense was #12 Nacarius Fant with 12 points, 2 blocks, 1 steal,and 4 boards. On the defensive side of the ball #40 Joseph Ayers had 5 blocks and altered other finishes along with 8 points and 5 rebounds.
Leading McCracken County was #10 Kam Chumbler with 17 points and 4 assists. #3 Jared Burnett poured in 16 with 2 assists and 3 boards.
Congrats to the Mustangs and coach Burlin Brower for an excellent first season(25-9) and making it to the second round of the sweet sixteen. This was McCracken County’s first year as three schools in the county combined to create the school.
The Bowling Green Purples will face the Covington Catholic Colonels in the semifinals Saturday at 8pm.
