These close games are starting to get “old hat” for the University Heights Academy Blazers. For the second time in as many nights, and for the third time in a week, the Blazers had a game come down to the final seconds. This time it was Amani McGee and K.J. Crump going 4 for 4 at the line in the final twenty seconds to secure a 56-51 win over the Webster County Trojans.
The game was the Blazers’ tenth this season to be decided by 9 points or less.
UHA scored the first five points of the game, and never trailed after that. The Trojans would battle back to tie the game on three occasions, the last of those coming at 49-49 inside the final two minutes. D.J. Quarles broke that tie with the biggest shot of the game, a three-pointer to put UHA in front for good at 52-49.
It was Quarles and William Bryan that helped the Blazers get going early. After scoring the first five points, UHA would go on to lead 17-11 after the first eight minutes. A big story at the start was turnover problems for the Trojans, who would cough the ball up nine times in the first half of play.
Early in the second quarter, the Blazers would take their biggest lead of the night at 22-11. That lead would be short-lived. Webster County, behind big first halves from Destin Allen and Hunter McNaughton, fought back to cut the lead to 32-30 at the break. Allen and McNaughton combined to score 17 first-half points.
The Trojans were also able to hang tight due to crashing the boards. Webster County outrebounded UHA 15-11 in the first half.
Webster County tied the game to open the second half, but a K.J. Crump three put UHA back in front at 35-32. The Blazer lead would get no larger than four points in the quarter, which ended with UHA up 41-38.
The final quarter was more of the same. Webster County would tie the game twice, but could never get to the front. While at the other end, UHA could never quite get the Trojans put away. The biggest lead of the second half came after the second of K.J. Crump’s game-clinching free throws to finish the scoring at 56-51.
Turnovers continued to hinder Webster County in the second half, as the Trojans ended the game with 16 miscues to just 7 for University Heights. The Blazers, on the other hand, did a better job on the glass, outrebounding Webster County by one in the second half of play. UHA was also clutch at the free throw line in the second half, connecting on 7 of 8 at the charity stripe.
D.Q. Quarles led the Blazers with 17 points on the night. K.J. Crump finished with 12. William Bryan also got to double figures with 11.
Bradin Nelson and Destin Allen had 12 points each to pace the Trojans. Hunter McNaughton added 11.
UHA improves to 8-8 with the win and gets ready for a huge 8th District showdown Thursday night against Hopkinsville.
Webster County falls to 14-8 with their 5th straight loss. The Trojans host Lyon County on Thursday.
WCHS — 11 19 8 13 – 51
UHA — 17 15 9 15 – 56
Webster County (14-8) – Allen 12, Nelson 12, McNaughton 11, Harmon 8, Roland 4, Raley 2, Warren 2
University Heights (8-8) – Quarles 17, Crump 12, Bryan 11, McGee 9, Braxton 7
