On a night that got off to a little bit of a bumpy start for University Heights Academy, the Blazers used defensive pressure and high energy to get past Christian County for the second time in three nights. The Blazers used a late first-quarter run to take control of the game and were never seriously threatened again as they rolled to a 65-45 win over the Colonels, this time in Blazer Gym.
The Blazers started the game without their normal starting five due to a disciplinary matter. And, at first, it appeared it might have an impact on the beginning of the game.
Christian County jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead, but that lead would be short-lived. Javion Brown, Tomas Duncan, and Noah Shouse, who were all inserted into Saturday night’s starting lineup, gave the Blazers quality minutes early in the game. When the normal starters returned to the court, the message had been sent loud and clear, and Blazers, in turn, sent their own message to the Colonels.
UHA closed out the first quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 19-9 lead after the opening eight minutes. Christian County would get no closer than seven points for the rest of the game.
With the Blazer defense causing havoc out front and forcing the Colonels into 11 first-half turnovers, UHA was able to push the lead out to 36-20 at the half. UHA saw big first-half performances on both ends of the court from its usual harmonic quartet of William Bryan, Amani McGee, D.J. Quarles, and K.J. Crump.
Christian County was able to stay within shouting distance thanks to controlling the first half on the glass and getting a big half from Derrell Bateman, who tallied ten points. The Colonels outrebounded the Blazers 22-17
The Blazers then effectively finished the game in the opening moments of the 2nd half. After a Colonel basket to start the third quarter, UHA ripped off a 9-0 run to blow the lead out to 45-22. The lead would be at 56-32 when the quarter came to an end.
Reserves for both teams saw extensive action in the final quarter as the Blazers settled in to take the 20 point win.
D.J. Quarles led three Blazers in double figures with 14. K.J. Crump finished with 12, while William Bryan added 10.
Derrell Bateman was the only player to hit double figures for the Colonels. He finished the night with 14 points. The Blazers did a much better job on freshman Jordan Miles Saturday night. Miles, who hit five three-pointers on his way to 17 points in the first matchup, was held to an early first quarter three and a three-pointer midway through the 4th quarter for a total of six points.
UHA evens their overall record at 7-7 and goes to 2-0 in 8th District play.
Christian County falls to 0-7 and 0-2.
CCHS — 9 11 12 13 – 45
UHA — 19 17 20 9 – 65
Christian County (0-7) – Bateman 14, Miles 6, T. Vaughn 6, Leavell 5, Forte 4, Johnson 2, Riley 2, Quarles 2, K.J. Vaughn 2, Farrow 2
UHA (7-7) – D.J. Quarles 14, Crump 12, Bryan 10, McGee 9, Shouse 5, Thomas 3, Cherry 2, Braxton 2, Grubbs 2, Duncan 2, Brown 2, Northington 2
