Things got just a little too close for comfort late for University Heights Academy fans Monday night. After leading by 16 points early in the 4th quarter, the Blazers survived some icy late-game free throw shooting to sneak by Crittenden County 80-79 in a 2nd Region quarterfinal game at Blazer Gym.
The Rockets had the ball with 9 seconds to go, trailing 80-77. Preston Turley was able to get off a three-point attempt that bounced off the rim. Turley got his own rebound, but was too far down in the lane to get the ball back out for another three-point attempt, leaving his only option to put the rebound attempt up and hope for a foul. Turley made the stick back but the Blazers did not cooperate with a foul, and with Crittenden County out of timeouts, the final couple of seconds ticked away, and the Blazers survived with the one-point win.
UHA somehow found a way to win the game, despite missing 10 free throws in the 4th quarter. The Rockets will look back and wonder what might have happened if they had been better with ball security. Crittenden County had 22 turnovers in the contest to just eight for the Blazers.
For just over a half, it looked like the game was going to come down to the wire anyway. Through the early moments of the third quarter, there were six lead changes and ten ties. UHA led 19-16 after the opening quarter, with the Rockets then trimming that margin to 36-34 at the half.
With the game tied early in the third quarter, UHA looked like it was delivering the knockout blow for the night. The Blazers finished the third quarter on an 18-3 run to take a 63-48 lead heading into the final eight minutes. Gavin Grubbs and Amani McGee played huge roles in the Blazers getting out to the double-digit lead.
Crittenden County opened the final quarter with an 8-1 spurt to trim the lead to 64-56, and the battle to chew into the Blazers’ lead was on. The Rockets would close to within two at 79-77, but K.J. Crump hit one of two free throws to force Crittenden County into needing the three that would just not fall.
In addition to the Blazers’ struggles at the line, Crittenden County was able to hang around thanks to a strong effort on the boards. The Rockets outrebounded UHA 33-21.
William Bryan led five Blazers in double figures with 23 points. K.J. Crump added 15, while Amani McGee and Gavin Grubbs had 13 each. D.J. Quarles completed his night with 10 points.
Preston Turley nearly advanced the Rockets to the semifinals by himself coming down the stretch. Turley finished the night with 31 points, 20 of them coming in the 4th quarter. Gabe Mott added 19 for the Rockets.
The Rockets see their season come to an end at 13-10.
UHA improves to 13-9 and will advance to Wednesday night’s semifinal against Henderson County. The Blazers and the Colonels met March 10, with UHA coming away with a 72-61 win. That game will get started at 6:30 pm at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
CCHS — 16 18 14 31 – 79
UHA — 19 17 27 17 – 80
Crittenden County (13-10) – Turley 31, Mott 19, Morgeson 13, Boone 8, Dobyns 6, Champion 2
University Heights (13-9) – Bryan 23, Crump 15, McGee 13, Grubbs 13, D.J. Quarles 10, Braxton 2, Q. Quarles 2, Duncan 2
