University Heights Academy and John Hardin met in the nightcap at the Marshall County Hoopfest on Friday night, with the Bulldogs’ Alex Matthews having his way down low with the Blazers on the way to 25 points and an 81-44 victory.
John Hardin moves to 2-0 before a meeting with Christian County on Saturday in the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Central Hardin, while the Blazers are still looking for their first win of the season.
The Bulldogs pressed the Blazers from the outset and took a double-digit lead midway through the first quarter on the way to a 30-9 advantage. UHA was more competitive in the second quarter, but were still outscored 20-15, with John Hardin shooting a blistering 67% from the field in the half for a 50-24 halftime score.
The Bulldogs continued to build the lead after the break, tacking on 10 more points to the margin for a 71-35 advantage after the third quarter. With a running clock over the final 8 minutes and the game decided, both teams only put up 9 points each in the fourth for the final score.
Matthews pulled down 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double, with the Bulldogs outrebounding the Blazers 41-18. Trevon Harris finished with 24 and 11, joined in double figures by Jalen Tyus with 11 points.
DJ Quarles led the way for the Blazers with 21 points, followed by KJ Crump with 13 and William Bryan with 5. UHA was frigid from behind the 3-point line, going 4-27 for 14%.
The Blazers don’t have long to regroup, with a meeting with Owensboro coming up on Saturday at the Farmer’s Bank and Trust Tip-Off Classic at Muhlenberg County.
