LEXINGTON, Ky. – Preston English scored 21 points and Tre Hornbuckle added 17 to lead the Murray High School boys basketball team to a 62-35 victory over Buckhorn on Wednesday in the first round of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
Up 16-15 after the first quarter, Murray (30-5) outscored Buckhorn 17-3 in the second quarter on its way to its first Sweet 16 victory since 1977.
Hornbuckle, a 6-foot-4 forward who has signed to play football at Duke, helped Murray post a 38-8 advantage in points in the paint.
“We felt if they extended their 3-2 zone and tried to get out on our shooters that he was going to have matchups he would like inside,” Murray coach Bart Flener said. “He found out in the first half they weren’t trapping. Once they did, he did a great job of sighting his shooters and moving the basketball around.”
Josh Crank posted 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals to lead Buckhorn (19-16), which shot just 27.7 percent (10 of 44).
With an enrollment of 156, Buckhorn was the smallest school to qualify for the Sweet 16.
“Everybody embraced these guys, and they should,” Wildcats coach John Noble said. “This didn’t go the way we hoped it would, but just being here sends a strong message to small schools, especially in Eastern Kentucky.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
MURRAY 16 17 10 19 – 62
BUCKHORN 15 3 7 10 – 35
Murray (30-5) – Clark 5, Boone 5, Hornbuckle 17, English 21, Curtis 10, McClure 2, Hilbrecht 2.
Buckhorn (19-16) – Boggs 2, Hurley 3, Crank 16, Hoskins 8, Morris 6.
3-point goals – Clark, Boone, English 3, Curtis; Hurley, Crank, Hoskins 2, Morris 2.