The location was the same and the result was almost the exact same. The two teams that met in last year’s boys’ 2nd Region championship game squared off Saturday evening in Madisonville, with the Maroons using a strong 4th quarter performance to pull away to a 73-58 win over the University Heights Academy Blazers. The Maroons won last year’s regional title game by 13 points.
The Blazers, who were playing without D.J. Quarles, who continues to be sidelined in the aftermath of a concussion that he suffered in practice, were right there with the Maroons until the end of the third quarter, when Madisonville, who has not lost to a 2nd Region opponent all season, was able to gain some separation.
The Blazers gave the Maroons indication early on in the game that they would be around for the long haul. UHA came out firing, both on offense and defense, and jumped out to an early 9-3 lead. Madisonville quickly responded with an 8-0 run, six of the points score by Ksuan Casey, as the Maroons got to the lead at 11-9, and the battle was on.
The two teams went at it back and forth for the remainder of the quarter, which ended with Madisonville holding a 17-16 lead. Ksuan Casey had a big quarter for the Maroons with 9 points.
Madisonville opened the second quarter on a 14-5 run to sprint out to a 31-21 lead, as the Maroons appeared to have the Blazers on the ropes. However, behind strong play from Amani McGee and K.J. Crump, the Blazers battled back and cut the lead to 34-29 going into the half.
UHA, behind continued strong play from K.J. Crump, would get as close as four points in the third quarter at 40-36. Madisonville’s Kenny White stepped up over the next few moments and helped the Maroons move the lead back out to 51-43 at quarter’s end.
After back to back baskets from K.J. Crump early in the 4th quarter, the Blazers were back to within six points at 53-47. The Maroons responded with an 8-1 run, and UHA could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
UHA’s K.J. Crump led all scorers in the game with 28 points. Amani McGee added 12 points. Will Bryan just missed reaching double figures with 9 points. Noah Shouse finished with 5 points for the Blazers.
Kenny White was the top Madisonville scorer with 22 points, 17 of them coming in the second half. Ksuan Casey chipped in with 16. Marquise Parker had 12, and Deljuan Johnson finished with 11 for the Maroons.
The loss drops UHA to 13-10 on the season, while Madisonville improves to 24-3.
