Jordan Miles’ two free throws with 3.7 seconds to go Tuesday night helped Christian County secure a hard-fought 48-45 win over University Heights Academy in the semifinals of the 8th District tournament at Hopkinsville’s Tiger Gym. The Colonels will now advance to take on Hopkinsville in the boys’ championship game Thursday night.
Miles’ free throws came after each team missed some big opportunities in the final minute of the game. After trailing by nine points early in the final quarter, the Blazers battled back to within 45-42. Gavin Grubbs made a pair of free throws to cut the margin to one at 45-44.
Christian County had a chance to extend the lead when Breland Morrison was fouled by the Blazers and sent to the line. Morrison made one of two free throws to push the lead back to two points at 46-44.
UHA worked the ball in the frontcourt looking for a shot to tie the game. Grubbs would be fouled on a drive to the basket with 4.5 seconds to go. He would hit the first two free throws to cut the lead to 46-45. He would miss the second and Jordan Miles was fouled, sending him to the line for the game-clinching free throws.
Quinton Quarles half-court shot just ahead of the horn came up well short as the celebration erupted in the Christian County student section
The early part of the game was like a prizefight, with each trying to feel the other out. The tempo was up and down the court, but neither team was able to get a whole lot done early on the offensive end. A 6-0 run would give the Colonels an 8-2 lead late in the opening quarter. Derrell Bateman was a force down in the lane in the early going for Christian County.
Gavin Grubbs would cut the lead to 8-5 at the end of the quarter when he connected on the first of his two first-half three-pointers.
The Blazers then opened the second quarter with a 10-3 spurt to take a 15-11 lead midway through the second quarter. The run was sparked by the UHA half-court defense which forced the Christian County offense into a handful of mistakes. The tempo continued to be fast-paced, with both teams missing some good looks at the basket over the second eight minutes.
Trailing 18-14 late in the half, Christian County ran off seven quick points to grab the lead back at 21-18. The Colonels would then take a one-point lead at 21-20 into the break.
With Jordan Miles finding his stride, the Colonels opened the second half on a 7-2 spurt to take a 28-22 lead. Christian County appeared to have the momentum as the quarter ended with the Colonels still up by six at 36-30.
Early in the fourth, Miles would knock down back-to-back threes to extend the Christian County lead to nine at 42-33, and the Blazers appeared to be in deep waters at that point. But to their credit, the Blazers would battle back but just could not get to the lead in the final moments of the contest.
Jordan Miles came up big for Christian County, finishing the game with 16 points, 13 of them coming in the second half. Derrell Batemen and K.J. Vaughn added 10 points each.
Gavin Grubbs was the top scorer for the Blazers with 15 points. Quinton Quarles finished with 9 points and Lemar Northington added 7.
Christian County improves to 10-21 on the season and advances to take on Hopkinsville in Thursday night’s championship game. The Tigers won both meetings between the two teams this season. This will be the first meeting in the title game between the two teams since the 2017 tournament.
University Heights finishes the season at 9-15.
UHA — 5 15 10 15 – 45
CCHS — 8 13 15 12 – 48
University Heights (9-15) – Grubbs 15, Quarles 9, Northington 7, J. Brown 6, Thomas 6, Walton 2
Christian County (10-21) – Miles 16, Bateman 10, K.J. Vaughn 10, Williams 4, Morrison 3, Northington 3, Riley 2
