“Shooting the J” took on a literal meaning Tuesday night.
Championed by DJ Quarles and KJ Crump, the jumpers came early and were plentiful for the University Heights Academy duo at Lyle Dunbar Gymnasium, leading the Blazers to a 77-50 district basketball win over host Christian County High School.
Quarles (24) and Crump (20) combined for 44 of UHA’s 77 points in the 8th District rout. Amani McGee added 14 points, while a scrappy Will Bryan racked up 10 points and eight rebounds. All four players came into the contest averaging double figures, and lived up to the billing.
The Colonels, who were playing without the services of point guard Qua Chambers, scored the night’s first points on a strong layup by Kobe Dillard. Heights quickly countered, however, on a 3-pointer by Crump, which sparked a 12-0 run and gave the Blazers a lead it would never relinquish.
After winning last year’s district matchup by 32 points at CCHS, University Heights kept its foot on the gas throughout the night to earn another convincing victory on the Cols’ home floor.
County attempted to close the gap some, late in the second quarter, but Crump followed a McGee bucket by stealing the ensuing inbounds during the closing seconds and drilling a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left to give UHA a 40-21 halftime advantage.
Stephen Bussell, who pulled down nine rebounds and notched a team-high 25 points, worked hard to despite the deficit, but the Blazer onslaught was too much to overcome. The facing defense of Weston Wood and spark off the bench by Namari Hall were also crucial to University Heights’ dominance.
The Colonels missed their first 10 shots from beyond the arc, while the Blazers enjoyed a 6-of-11 clip, including a trio of long balls by Quarles. Bussell finally drained County’s first 3-pointer with 1:02 left in the third quarter, but the Cols already trailed 59-31.
UHA’s largest lead of the game was 32 points.
Dillard and Olajuwon White each scored seven points in defeat. The Colonels (6-8, 1-1 district), which were coming off a 10-point win Jan. 4 over host Graves County in the CFSB New Year’s Bash, will continue their home stand at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Paducah Tilghman.
UHA (6-8, 2-0) plays another crucial district game at 7:30 p.m. Friday, hosting Hopkinsville (7-8, 1-1).
The Blazers, Colonels and Tigers are then all in action Saturday in the Toyota of Hopkinsville Classic at CCHS, as the Tigers (2 p.m.), Blazers (4 p.m.) and Colonels (6 p.m.) play Lyon County, Clarksville Northeast (TN) and Madison Central, respectively.
University Heights 19 21 19 18 – 77
Christian County 10 11 12 17 – 50
University Heights (6-8) — DJ Quarles 24, KJ Crump 20, Amani McGee 14, Will Bryan 10, Namari Hall 6, Noah Shouse 3
Christian County (6-9) — Stephen Bussell 25, Kobe Dillard 7, Olajuwon White 7, Mikeon Mathis 5, Jalil Farrow 4, Quan Forte 2
