You can guarantee that the University Heights Academy Blazers would like a mulligan on the start of their game Friday night against the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons. After a horrid start in the opening quarter, the UHA Blazers would battle back from as many as 23 points down in the second half to get as close as three points in the final minute, but their rally would fall just short as the Maroons survived to take a 58-53 win in Blazer Gym.
Kale Gaither finally sealed the win for the Maroons with a pair of free throws inside the final 15 seconds. The Blazers had chances to tie or get to the lead in the final moments, but hit only one of their past four free throws and had a couple of costly mistakes coming down to the wire.
As the game got underway, the Maroons looked every bit the part of a regional contender. With Kale Gaither and Danye Frazier leading the way. Madisonville nearly ended the game before it got started. The Maroons scored the final 18 points of the first quarter to take a 20-2 lead over the Blazers.
The run would increase to 20 before the Blazers finally scored again early in the second quarter. After the brutal start, UHA was able to play essentially even with the Maroons in the second quarter. Still, the Blazers were down 37-15 at the break.
As the second half got underway, it appeared like not much would change in the flow of the game. Early in the third quarter, the Blazers were still down 23 points at 46-23. And then, the run began.
The Blazer defense locked down on the Maroons getting good looks at the basket. The defense also began to cause Madisonville to cough the ball up with regularity. Add in that Gavin Grubbs, Preston Thomas, and Trevonne Wallace got clicking on offense, and the lead began to evaporate.
The Blazers would outscore the Maroons 15-4 to finish the third and the lead was down to 47-35.
Madisonville scored the first six points of the final quarter and it appeared that the Maroons had fended off the rally. However, a quick 9-0 run from UHA cut the lead to 53-46 and it was “game on.” The Blazers would close to within three at 55-52 and 56-53, but missed opportunities would prove costly in the waning moments of the game.
Gavin Grubbs had a big night for the Blazers with 15 points, 13 of them coming in the second half. Preston Thomas added 11, while Trevonne Wallace finished with 10.
Madisonville’s Kale Gaither was the top scorer in the contest with 23 points. Danye Frazier chipped in with 12. Zach Tow ended the game with 11 points for the Maroons.
UHA drops to 8-13 with the loss. The Blazers are back in action Saturday night as they take on McCracken County at Eddyville.
Madisonville improves to 18-8. The Maroons travel to Hopkins County Central on Monday.
MNHHS — 20 17 10 11 – 58
UHA — 2 13 20 18 – 53
Madisonville-North Hopkins (18-8) – Gaither 23, Frazier 12, Tow 11, Cheirs 4, McAdoo 2, Rodgers 2, Price 2, Peyton 2
University Heights (8-13) – Grubbs 15, Wallace 12, Thomas 11, Quarles 6, Walton 5, J. Brown 4,
