It could be one of the best matchups in the opening round of the Boys’ 2nd Region Tournament. The University Heights Academy Blazers, runners-up in the 8th District, will take on the Webster County Trojans, the winners of the 6th District, in the first quarterfinal game Thursday evening.
The Blazers come into the tournament at 15-13, and are coming off a stinging loss to Christian County in the 8th District championship game. UHA was struggled a bit coming down the stretch, losing four of their last six games.
UHA is led by their quartet of guards, Will Bryan, K.J. Crump, Amani McGee, and D.J. Quarles, who missed time late in the season after suffering a concussion in practice. Crump leads the team in scoring at 20.8 points a game. Quarles is next at 15.6, followed by McGee at 14.1 points, and then Bryan rounds out the double figurers scorers with 11 ppg.
On the boards, Will Bryan leads the team at 5.7 per contest. Namari Hall is next with 5 rebounds a game. Quarles, McGee, and Weston Wood, all average 4 rebounds or better per contest.
UHA comes into the tournament shooting the ball at a 42.9 percent clip. Behind the 3-point line, the Blazers are shooting 34.3 percent. UHA has had issues at times from the free throw line, shooting just 61.9 percent on the season.
Webster County comes into the game at 25-5, and with the momentum of knocking off Henderson County in the 6th District championship game. The Trojans have won 12 of their last 15 games, with two of the losses coming to Henderson County, and the other to Lyon County.
Tyler Camplin leads the Trojans in scoring at 17 points per game. Destin Allen is next at 12.9. The other double figures scorer for Webster County is Hunter McNaughton at 11.9 points per contest.
Destin Allen is the leading rebounder for Webster County at 6.1 rebounds per game. Hunter McNaughton averages 5.3, while Ayden Winn averages 4.5 boards per contest.
Webster County has been on of the region’s best shooting teams during the season, connecting on 50.7 percent of its shots from the field. Outside the 3-point line, the Trojans have been knocking em down at a 33.1 percent clip. Webster County is shooting 68.5 percent from the free throw line.
UHA is averaging 66.1 points per game, while giving up 63.7 points. Webster County enters the tournament putting up 69.5 points a game, while allowing just 52.5 per game.
The last time the teams met in regional tournament play was 1995, with the Blazers coming away with a 74-55 win in the regional semifinals at Hopkinsville. UHA would go on to win the region title.
This season, Webster County upended the Blazers in a tight, hard fought game, winning 69-68 on their home court on February 20.
