The University Heights Academy Blazers played pretty close to even with 1st Region contender McCracken County for the final three quarters of their game in Eddyville Saturday night. The problem was the first quarter, where the Mustangs established their lead and then rode it out for a 62-48 win over the Blazers.
The Blazers were leading 9-7 when McCracken County went on an 8-0 run to go up 15-9. The Mustangs would further extend the lead when they closed out the quarter with six straight to go up 23-13. Jack McCune was more than a handful for the Blazers, powering to the basket inside and knocking down threes from the outside.
UHA would get no closer than nine points for the rest of the first half as McCracken County took a 35-23 lead into the break. Gavin Grubbs did his best to keep the Blazers in sight of the Mustangs in the first half, finishing the half with 8 points.
The lead stayed in double digits for much of the third quarter, until the Blazers made a run late to try and get back in the game. With Gavin Grubbs leading the charge, the Blazers scored the final six points of the quarter to cut the lead from 11 points to five at 45-40 heading into the fourth.
The momentum of the third-quarter run was short-lived, however. McCracken County started the final quarter with a quick 6-1 jolt, pushing the lead back to ten points and effectively ending the comeback bid from the Blazers. UHA would get no closer than 8 points after that.
Gavin Grubbs had one of his best nights of the season, finishing with 25 points, 17 in the second half. Lemar Northington, Trevonne Wallace, and Preston Thomas added five points each.
Jack McCune had 19 points for the Mustangs. Carson Purvis added 15. Brent Brower finished in double figures with ten.
The loss drops UHA to 8-14. The Blazers wrap up the regular season Wednesday night on the road at Christian County.
MCHS — 23 12 10 17 – 62
UHA — 13 10 17 8 – 48
McCracken County (22-2) – McCune 19, Purvis 15, Brower 10, Tilford 8, Miller 8, Blackwell 2
University Heights (8-14) – Grubbs 25, Northington 5, Thomas 5, Wallace 5, C. Brown 4, Quarles 4
