It was a pretty good way to celebrate Homecoming Monday night. Lemar Northington’s deep three-pointer in overtime gave University Heights Academy the lead for good as the Blazers picked up arguably their best win of the season with a 63-58 victory over the Calloway County Lakers in Blazer Gym.
Quinton Quarles would then put the game away by going 5 of 6 at the free-throw line inside of the final minute.
The win came after UHA rallied from eight points down in the 4th quarter to force the extra period. Quarles and freshman Elijah Walton both made big plays coming down the stretch in regulation for the Blazer.
UHA trailed 40-32 early in the fourth but then outscored the Lakers 13-5 to even things up at 45-45 late in regulation. Quarles missed a three from the right wing at the 4th quarter horn that would have won the game.
The game was typical of a contest involving a 1st Region team, tough, physical, and a grind-it-out kind of affair.
UHA jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead and would hold a 14-9 lead when the quarter ended.
In the second quarter, the Blazers struggled to find a seam against the Calloway County 2-3 zone defense and often settled for three-point shots. Calloway County was able to convert the Blazers’ impatience into a 7-2 run the tied the game at 16-16. The Lakers would then take a 19-18 lead into the break.
The third quarter saw the Blazers battle back from deficits twice, only to see Calloway County push back into the lead. After being held scoreless in the first half Aidan Clinton had seven points in the third to help the Lakers take a 37-32 lead into the final quarter.
Quinton Quarles topped the UHA scoring list with 16 points, ten of them coming in the second half. Lemar Northington finished with 13 points, all coming in the second half of play. Elijah Walton added 12 points, ten of them after halftime.
After being blanked in the first half, Zach Hudgin scored 14 for Calloway County. Matthew Ray added 12 points while Aidan Clinton scored 10.
UHA improves to 7-8 with the win, while Calloway County falls to 12-8.
CCHS — 9 10 18 13 8 – 58
UHA — 14 4 14 18 13 – 63
Calloway County (12-8) – Z. Hudgin 14, Ray 12, Clinton 10, Butler 8, Duncan 6, Franklin 4, D. Hudgin 4
UHA (7-8) – Quarles 16, Northington 13, Walton 12, Grubbs 9, J. Brown 7, Thomas 4, C. Brown 2
