Mustangs cruise after sluggish start

MURRAY — It was just a matter of patience for the heavily-favored Murray Mustangs boys basketball team Thursday night.

Southeast Warren, just 4-18 for the season, stayed in contention throughout a first quarter marred by missed layups and turnovers in the Class 1A District quarterfinal game in the Jerry Brown Gymnasium.

Murray, 20-2, held just a 12-7 advantage after eight minutes.

Then the Mustangs opened the floodgates with a 28-point barrage to take a 40-19 halftime lead before cruising to an 85-52 victory.

"We told the kids we're getting the shots we want and they'll start dropping," Murray coach Darin Wookey said. "In the second quarter we pressured the ball, pushed it up the floor better and got the tempo up like we planned on."

One thing Wookey and the Mustangs didn't plan on was the perimeter marksmanship of the Warhawks. Four different Southeast Warren players made a total of nine 3-pointers. Coleton Adement scored 15 points for the Warhawks and Ricky Harvy chipped in 13.

"They really shot the ball better than we anticipated," Wookey said. "They were 3-for-27 on threes the other night when I watched them, and tonight they came out and made nine threes. I thought we were a little flat-footed at times defensively."

Senior forward Bryce Keller had 18 points and 12 rebounds. His partner in the post, senior Thane Simmons, also had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points. Senior guard Dustin Teas, averaging 7.1 points for the season, scored a team-high 19 points with eight rebounds in the victory. Senior guard Kenny Boles had another good overall performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Jack Jones added 10 points to give the Mustangs five in double figures.

Mormon Trail opened the district doubleheader with a 53-46 victory over Moravia. The Saints, 13-6, have lost twice to Murray this season.

"We beat Mormon Trail by 15 there and 60-20 here at the end but Parker Hitt (15.8 scoring average) did not play and he's their go-to guy," Wookey said. "We know it's going to be a tough game down there at Wayne."

Martensdale-St. Marys takes on Wayne in the nightcap Tuesday in Corydon. The winners match up Feb. 23 at Truro for the district championship.

SE WARREN (52) — Jeff Wadle 0-3 0-6 6, Jackson Fisher 3 2-3 8, Dalton Weeks 2 0-0 6, Ricky Harvey 2-2 3-5 13, Hunter Rowe 2 0-1 4. Totals — 19 5-15 52. 3-point goals — 9 (Ademelt 3, Weeks 2, Harvey 2, Wadlee 2). Team fouls — 19. Fouled out — Coleton Ademelt. Technical fouls — Jackson Fischer.

MURRAY (85) — Bryce Keller 9 0-0 20, Dustin Teas 8 1-4 19, Kenny Boles 7 2-4 17, Jack Jones 3 4-6 10, Thane Simmons 5 0-0 10, Reese Held 2 2-2 6, Jeran Cosner 1 1-2 3, Jimmy Graham 1 0-0 2. Totals — 36 10-19 85. 3-point goals — 3 (Teas 2, Boles 1). Rebounds — Keller 12, Simmons 10, Boles 10, Teas 8. Assists — Boles 4, Simmons 4, Keller 3, Zane Black 3. Steals — Boles 4, Teas 3. Team fouls — 18. Fouled out — None.

SEW (52) — 7 12 17 16

Murray (85) — 12 28 22 23