Overcoming a slow start, the University Heights Academy Blazers used a run at the end of the second quarter to get past Clarksville Northwest and put an end to their two-game losing streak. The Blazers ended the first half on a 12-3 to break open a close game and then roll on to a 58-40 win over the Vikings in the City of Hopkinsville Toyota Holiday Classic.
Both teams struggled to get things going offensively in the contest. With 4:00 to go in the opening quarter, Northwest held a 3-2 lead. The two teams would swap the lead back and forth, with UHA standing on the top of the mountain at 9-8 when the opening quarter ended.
The game was still a one-point battle at 13-12 in the second quarter when the game-changing run took place. The Blazers would finish the half outscoring the Vikings 12-3. The run was capped off by a 3-point shot from Elijah Walton just ahead of the halftime buzzer, with the Blazers leading 25-15.
Lemar Northington and Elijah Walton combined to score 12 points in the quarter as UHA made the move to take the lead for good.
The Vikings would occasionally make a small run and take a bite out of the lead, but could not sustain any second-half momentum. The third quarter ended with the Blazers up 41-26.
Northwest made one last move to get back in the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter as they scored the first four points to cut the lead to 41-30. UHA quickly suppressed any thought of a comeback with six straight points to move the lead back out to 47-30. The Blazers would continue to hold the Vikings at bay to get the 18 point win.
Elijah Walton was the top scorer for UHA with 14 points. Lemar Northington added 13. Quinton Quarles also hit double figures with ten.
Northwest was led by Servontae Williams with 13 points.
The Blazers improve to 3-5 with the win. UHA is back on the court Wednesday when they take on Louisville Central.
CNWHS — 8 7 11 14 – 40
UHA — 9 16 16 17 – 58
Clarksville Northwest – Williams 13, Monday 8, Batista 6, Smith 5, Harvey 5, Bellamy 3
UHA (3-5) – Walton 14, Northington 13, Quarles 10, Grubbs 6, Wallace 4, C. Brown 4, Thomas 3, B. Northington 2.
