After losing a double-digit lead Friday night on the road against Owensboro Catholic, the University Heights Academy Blazers were tasked with a short turnaround, and having to face one of the state’s top scorers in Marshall County’s Zion Harmon. While the WKU commit did connect for 39 points, it was the team effort of the Blazers, especially on the defensive end, that turned out to be the difference as UHA took a 78-69 win Saturday afternoon at Blazer Gym.
Harmon opened hot, scoring nine early points, as the Marshals took the early 14-8 lead. However, UHA’s D.J. Quarles took the opportunity to show that the Blazers had some scorers as well. Quarles knocked down three shots from behind the arc, as UHA cut the lead to 21-18 at the end of the quarter.
After a Kole Sedlock basket extended the Marshall County lead to 23-18 to start the second quarter, the Blazer offense found another gear, one that was in great part driven by their defense. With Marshall County’s guards having trouble dealing with the UHA half-court defensive pressure, the Blazers went on an 11-0 run to take a 29-23 lead. The defensive effort was a team effort with K.J. Crump, D.J. Quarles, William Bryan, Amani McGee, and Gavin Grubbs all helping to ignite the run.
The defense also was able to clamp down on Zion Harmon for a long stretch of the first half, holding him scoreless for a nine minute stretch.
But, Harmon would not stay quiet long. With Harmon scoring seven points over the final three minutes of the half, Marshall County battled back to cut the lead to two going into the break.
Coming out of the locker room, the two teams went back and forth throughout the third quarter. There were six lead changes and two ties in the quarter, which came to an end with UHA clinging to a one point lead at 59-58. D.J. Quarles and Zion Harmon had their own scoring battle in the quarter. Harmon had 17, while Quarles had 12 points of his own.
Things stayed tight in the 4th quarter, however, Marshall County was never able to get to the lead in the final eight minutes. A Zion Harmon basket would tie the game at 68-68 midway through the final quarter. The Blazers, again with their half court defense leading the way, would finish out the game on a 9-2 run to take the 77-68 win. William Bryan, K.J. Crump, and Amani McGee all had big baskets during the game clinching run.
For the afternoon, D.J. Quarles had a big day for the Blazers with 25 points. K.J. Crump and William Bryan added 17 points each. Amani McGee also reached double figures with 14.
Marshall County’s Zion Harmon led all scorers with 39 points. Cole Mills was the other Marshal to reach double figures with 13 points.
UHA improves to 1-2 on the season, and now gets ready for a huge 1st round battle at Lyon County on Tuesday night in the opening round of the 2nd Region All A Classic.
Marshall County drops to 2-1, and will be off until January 15 when they take on Calloway County.
Marshall Co — 21 15 22 10 – 68
UHA — 18 20 21 18 – 77
Marshall County – Harmon 39, Mills 13, Schroader 7, Driver 5, Sedlock 2, Miller 2
UHA – Quarles 25, Bryan 17, Crump 17. McGee 14, Grubbs 4
