[Stardust]

LEXINGTON – A 71-54 loss against Knott County Central in the first round of the 95th PNC/KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen on Thursday at Rupp Arena ended Boone County's season.

In the locker room after the game, Greg McQueary told his players to relish what they accomplished this season rather than dwell on what they did not.

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"We didn't play very well today, but give Knott County Central credit. They did a good job against our defense and they also played well defensively," he said. "Focus on the fact that you got here. We had a great season. Won more games than any Boone County team has won before and one of four teams to get to the state tournament from Boone County High School.

"I know they're disappointed. I'm disappointed. You want it so much for them because they're great kids."

The Rebels fell behind early, got into foul trouble and could not close the gap with Knott County Central shooting a sizzling 65.7 percent from the field.

Senior guard Zack Davis and freshman forward Simon Christon scored 19 points apiece for the 14th Region champs. Freshman forward Evan Hall finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, and freshman guard Camron Justice overcame early foul trouble to finish with 11 points and five assists.

Knott County Central will face Oldham County in the quarterfinals on Friday.

"I'm just tickled to death to win," Patriots coach B.B. King said.

Making its first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen since 1996, Boone County shot 35.6 percent from the field for the game.

Senior forward Zane McQueary led the Rebels with 18 points and six rebounds while senior point guard Jakeith Pitts added 13 points.

The Rebels finished the season with a 27-8 record.

"You talk about the positive aspect of it, realizing we've come this far," Zane McQueary said. "At the same time, if we had played better and gotten beat, it would be different. We're disappointed. We didn't play nearly as good as we've been playing, and that's what was most disappointing."

Boone County missed its first 10 shots from the field Thursday and trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half before cutting the deficit to five points before halftime.

Starting forward Keenan Palmer and starting guard Cooper Downs had three fouls apiece in the first half. Starting guard Chase Stanley picked up two fouls in the first half as did sixth man Travis Carr.

Palmer and Downs fouled out in the fourth quarter.

"We weren't able to press as much as we wanted to and had some people playing different positions than what they're used to on the press because of the foul trouble," Greg McQueary said. "That's just part of it. You've got to try to overcome it.

"They lived at the free throw line. In the first half, we were fortunate they missed some of those free throws and we were able to stay in the game. But we need to get to the free throw line and didn't get there near enough."

Boone County shot just 11 free throws during the game compared to 33 for Knott County Central.

The Rebels were trailing by eight points when Justice hit a 3-pointer for Knott County Central with five seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Patriots came out in the fourth and then scored five more unanswered to take a 54-38 lead.

Knott County Central made 13 of 16 shots from the field (81.3 percent) in the second half.

"I'm proud of us for winning regionals and getting here," Pitts said. "We worked hard. They were just the better team today."

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