Heritage Christian Academy took care of business early and led wire to wire to advance to the semifinals of the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association State Basketball Tournament Friday.
The Warriors scored the first 17 points of the game and defeated Cornerstone Christian 54-25 in Nicholasville.
HCA’s pressure defense forced five turnovers in the game’s first four minutes, and the Warriors led 15-0 less than three minutes in.
Weston Powell’s bucket just ahead of the first quarter horn gave the Warriors a 23-5 lead. Carlos Robles scored 10 of his 14 points in the quarter.
HCA expanded its lead to 38-11 at halftime and allowed Coach Matt McGowan to use his bench liberally in anticipation of a possible two games Saturday. Triston Folz scored six of his 10 points in the second frame.
The 29-point final margin was HCA’s largest of the game as nine players reached the scoring column.
Robles and Powell each had six rebounds, and Trenton Hayes added four steals.
The Warriors shot 48-percent from the field and were 4 of 11 behind the arc.
Heritage Christian, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, will play No. 6 seed Oak Ridge Christian in Saturday afternoon’s semifinal. It will be the sixth meeting this season between the region rivals. HCA won the first matchup by 31 points, but the last four have been decided by an average of 10 points.
Cornerstone 5 6 5 9– 25
Heritage Christian 23 15 7 9– 54
Cornerstone – Ethan Hendricks 6, Edison Hendricks 6, Haydon 6, Maxwell 3, Sullivan 2, Holcomb 2
Heritage Christian [25-10] – Robles 14, Folz 10, Powell 8, Yates 7, Hayes 4, Leek 3, Tre. Fowler 3, Glover 3, Gibson 2
