A lot of people think University Heights and Madisonville will meet for the Second Region boys’ basketball title in March. If Thursday’s game is any indication, it will be another classic. Amani McGee hit one of two free throws with a second left to give the Blazers an 80-79 win at Blazer Gym.
McGee picked off a Madisonville pass at midcourt and was fouled with one second left. After missing the first free throw, he hit the second to seal a crazy come-from-behind win.
Madisonville owned the first half, trailing only 2-0 early. The Maroons led by as many as eight points in the second quarter, but Kyky Tandy hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds to give the Blazers a 36-35 halftime advantage.
The Maroons made it a point to use their inside game to their advantage. They fed 6-8 Ksuan Casey, who had 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a free throw. Madisonville built a 56-44 lead with 3:12 left in the quarter. UHA trimmed the deficit to 63-55 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter belonged to Tandy. The Xavier signee scored 14 of his game-high 35 points in the final frame. More importantly, he drove the lane and drew a pair of fouls on Casey, who would foul out with 1:20 left and the Maroons leading 74-72.
With the game tied at 76, Cade Cunningham hit a layup and was fouled with 25 seconds left to put the Maroons up 79-76. Tandy answered by banking in a 25-footer with 17 seconds left.
Madisonville had a chance to take the lead but missed a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left. UHA missed their attempt on the ensuing possessions and turned the ball over to Madisonville, setting up the game’s final sequence will McGee stealing the inbounds pass.
Missed free throws were Madisonville’s undoing. They were 16-of-30 for the game, including 5-of-12 at the line in the fourth quarter.
The Maroons owned a 50-29 rebound advantage but committed 18 turnovers that led to 13 Blazer points.
Casey finished with 25 points and 20 rebounds. Cunningham added 17 points, and Kenny White had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Outside of Tandy’s 35 points, Drew McGowan added 18 points and eight rebounds. D.J. Quarles added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. TaQuan Hollowell had six points and six rebounds.
Madisonville (4-2) returns to action next week at the King of the Bluegrass where UHA will also be in action. The Blazers improve to 6-0 and will play Evansville Reitz Saturday in the Bosse Winter Classic.
