‘A tremendous team effort.’ Male breaks Sweet 16 three-point record on way to victory.
With four minutes to play in Thursday’s first-round matchup between Male and Breathitt County in the 2023 UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16, the Male student section boomed, “We want Andrew!”
The Bulldogs had built a comfortable 78-49 lead, and, sitting at the end of the bench, sophomore forward Andrew Vrbancic was moments away from history.
“He’s usually the last guy to get off the bench,” Male head coach Tim Haworth said. “So the student section loves him. He’s just a great kid.”
Prior to the Bulldogs’ 94-59 victory Thursday, the KHSAA record for made three-pointers in a state tournament game was 14, set by Mason County against Ballard in 2003.
Haworth granted the student section’s wishes, subbing in Vrbancic with 1:12 remaining in the game. Just two seconds before, Brandon Richardson hit Male’s 13th three, tying the state record.
Fans of the Bulldogs didn’t have to wait long for the record-breaker.
With 1:03 remaining, Vrbancic — who had touched the floor for not even 10 full seconds — launched a clean shot.
History. Made by a beloved benchwarmer.
“He’s hilarious,” Haworth said.
Not long after, Vrbancic tested his luck once again from beyond the arc. The ball didn’t even sniff the basket.
“Wasn’t too funny when he air balled that three,” Haworth laughed. “But other than that, it was great. It was funny.”
Shooting from long range is a Male Bulldogs staple. This season, the Bulldogs averaged 42.4 percent from three, and managed to do so against fierce competition. According to the KHSAA’s RPI ratings, of all the teams in the Sweet 16 field the Bulldogs have the highest “Opponents Winning Percentage,” with their regular-season opponents averaging a 0.62520 winning percentage.
The Bulldogs made T-shirts for the Sweet 16 that read “3 > 2,” or, “three (points) is greater than two (points),” a testament to the team’s commitment to the three-point shot.
“We’re all the time in the gym on the line, just getting shots up,” senior Demetris White said. “And to come out here and do it, it’s just like second nature. So, when we’re just shooting the ball, it’s just like, everything’s a good shot. … I don’t think we really took any bad shots between everybody on the team.”
Male shot 45.5 percent (15-of-33) from beyond the arc and 56.3 percent (36-of-64) overall.
“With us, it’s always a competition,” freshman Cole Edelen said. “... So I think we’re always pushing each other and that’s how we shoot so well. I think it’s hard for other teams to guard.”
Male started slow offensively and had to come from behind, trailing 12-5 late in the first quarter, but didn’t take much time to heat up. And once that fire started roaring, it never calmed down.
“Any time you shoot the ball that way you got a great chance to win,” Haworth said. “It’s a testament to these guys, how they battled through all the adversity all year and how they share the ball with one another. I thought it was a tremendous team effort.”
All five starters for Male scored in double figures, with senior and leading scorer Jack Edelen leading the way with 18 points. He was joined by his younger brother Cole Edelen (17), as well as Demetris White (15), Jayson Gasaway (12) and Max Gainey (10).
Breathitt County’s Luke Bellamy led the Bobcats (18-10) in scoring with 16.
Next up for Male (26-10) was a matchup with Lyon County in Friday’s quarterfinals.
This story was originally published March 16, 2023 at 3:33 PM.