This time there would be no “hanging on for dear life” until the final horn. After nearly seeing a second-half double-digit lead get away from them in the regional quarterfinals on Monday night, the University Heights Academy Blazers did not let things get quite as interesting Wednesday night, turning back Henderson County 69-53 in the first 2nd Region boys semifinal.
The Blazers used second-half runs totaling 29-0 to carry them back to the regional championship game for the third time in the past four seasons.
Early on, it looked like the game would be tightly contested through the night. The first quarter saw five lead changes and one tie as the two teams went back and forth, feeling each other out through the early moments of the game. The Blazers got a little breathing room when D.J. Quarles converted a four-point play with 30 seconds to go in the quarter, giving the Blazers a 14-9 lead.
Henderson scored the first five points of the second quarter to tie the game for the second time at 14-14. Both teams were playing uptempo and pressure defense, with the action at times getting fast and furious.
With UHA holding a 22-20 lead late in the first half, it was K.J. Crump who sent the Blazers to the locker room with the momentum. Crump scored the Blazers’ final 7 points of the half, including a steal and layup at the horn, giving UHA a 29-23 halftime lead.
The second half began with both teams appearing to feel the pressure of their season possibly being down to the final sixteen minutes. Henderson’s Noah Curry finally broke through with a basket two minutes into the second half to make it 29-25. Xavier Bugg would drain a three for the Colonels to bring them to within 31-28. Then, things came unraveled for Henderson County.
With their half-court defense turned on full blast, UHA hit Henderson County with a run and not just any old run. The Blazers went on a 16-0 “devastating” run to take a 47-28 lead. Several of the baskets came directly off steals that led to layups at the other end.
But the Colonels would not go away quite that easy. Over the final moments of the third quarter and the opening moments of the 4th quarter, Henderson County went on a 16-2 run to trim the lead back to five points at 49-44. Most of the damage was done by Eli Wilkes, who caught fire and connected on four three-pointers during the run by the Colonels.
But unlike the last time these two teams met this season, where the Colonels twice battled back from 21 points down, there would be no “all the way” comeback this night.
The Blazers responded with a 13-0 run to extend the lead back out to 62-44 and effectively end Henderson County’s season. UHA would then cruise on out for the final sixteen-point margin.
K.J. Crump led the Blazers with 21 points. A big night for D.J. Quarles, who had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Amani McGee finished with 16 points for the Blazers.
Noah Curry and Eli Wilkes were the top scorers for Henderson County. Each finished the night with 14 points.
Henderson sees their season end with a mark of 14-11.
UHA now improves to 14-9 and will move on to Saturday night’s championship game, where they will face the winner of the Thursday night game between Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkinsville.
HCHS — 9 14 10 20 – 53
UHA — 14 15 18 22 – 69
Henderson County (14-11) – Curry 14, Wilkes 14, Bugg 8, Lyons 7, Thomas 6, Reed 2, Wright 2
University Heights (14-9) – Crump 21, Quarles 18, McGee 16, Bryan 6, Grubbs 6, Braxton 2
