Cold shooting and limited opportunities off either the offensive or defensive boards make for a bad combination. That is what happened to the University Heights Academy Blazers Thursday evening, especially in the opening eight minutes of the game as the McCracken County Mustangs upended the Blazers 58-46 in Blazer Gym.
UHA took a 2-0 lead and then saw McCracken County finish the quarter on a 16-4 run as the Mustangs took a 16-6 lead after one. In a foretelling of the rest of the night, the Blazers struggled to contain the Mustangs’ inside duo of Jack McCune and Ian Hart. The pair controlled the paint both offensively and with their attack of the glass.
Lemar Northington II got going in the second quarter and helped the Blazer offense find its footing. UHA put up 16 points in the second quarter but still trailed the Mustangs 33-22 going into the break.
Shooting woes returned a bit for the Blazers in the third quarter, as McCracken was able to hold UHA to just eight points. McCune and Hart got some help from Connor Miller and the Mustangs looked to be on the verge of pulling away as the lead grew to 47-30 after the third.
To the Blazers’ credit, they did not fold their tents and go away. Turning up the defensive pressure, and led by Northington and Quinton Quarles on the offensive end, the Blazers would cut into the lead. UHA would get to as close as 52-44 in the final two minutes, but that would be as far as they could get, as McCracken held on for the 12 point win.
Lemar Northington II led UHA with 20 points. Quinton Quarles just missed double figures with nine points, all of them coming in the second half.
Ian Hart led the Mustangs with 20 points. Jack McCune chipped in with 18. Connor Miller also hit double-figures with 10.
UHA drops to 1-1 on the season with the loss. The Blazers are back in action Saturday when they take on Cane Ridge in the Calloway County Shootout.
MCHS – 16 17 14 11 — 58
UHA – 6 16 8 16 — 46
McCracken County – Hart 20, McCune 18, Miller 10, Purvis 8, Bradley 2
University Heights – Northington 20, Quarles 9, Wallace 6, J. Brown 5, Walton 4, Grubbs 2
