Marcus Eaves hit one of two free throws with 6.2 seconds left to lift Madisonville-North Hopkins to a 46-45 win over the University Heights Academy Blazers Thursday.
UHA got a shot off in the closing seconds but it was off-target to send the Blazers to their second loss in six games.
The Blazers had control of the game early as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead as Madisonville turned the ball over on its first five possessions.
UHA led 14-6 after one quarter, helped by nine first quarter Maroon turnovers. The Blazers extended it to 16-6 in the second quarter. It would be their largest lead of the game.
The Maroons chipped away in the second quarter as the Blazers misfired from deep in an attempt to extend their lead.
Eaves, who came into the game averaging 20 points, got his first bucket of the game with 2:43 left in the half.
UHA led 21-17 at halftime but Eaves scored five straight points to begin the second half and give the Maroons their first lead of the game.
The game turned in the third quarter when UHA’s bench was slapped with a technical foul with the Blazers leading 29-25. Christopher Watkins hit both free throws and a bucket by Danye Frazier tied the game. It also served as the catalyst for a 15-1 Madisonville run as the Blazers never regained the lead.
Madisonville, who hit just 2-of-11 three-pointers in the first half, focused on shorter shots after halftime. The result was a 10-of-17 shooting performance from the field.
UHA meanwhile, was just 3-of-18 behind the arc and shot 29-percent (17-of-57) for the game.
An Eaves bucket with 2:15 left gave Madisonville a 44-36 lead. But the Blazers had one final run left.
Elijah Walton hit a pair of free throws and Lemar Northington added a bucket with 1:28 left to get the Blazers to within four points.
Down 45-42 with 26 seconds left, Quinton Quarles drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 45. Eaves was fouled in the paint with 6.2 seconds left and hit one of two free throws for the final margin.
Eaves scored 14 of his 17 points after halftime and added eight rebounds. Watkins added 11 points and five rebounds.
Northington scored nine of his team-high 13 points in the first half. Walton added nine points and nine rebounds.
It wasn’t a pretty effort for Madisonville, who turned the ball over 20 times and shot just 11-of-21 at the free throw line.
UHA only had three turnovers in the second half and 13 for the game. They hit 8-of-10 at the charity stripe – all in the second half.
The win is Madisonville’s third straight over the Blazers and deadlocks the all-time series at 20-20.
UHA will return to Madisonville Monday to play Bowling Green in the First United Bank Holiday Classic hosted by the Maroons.
Madisonville will host North Hardin the event Monday.
University Heights 14 7 9 15– 45
Madisonville 6 11 14 15– 46
University Heights (4-2) – Northington 13, Walton 9, Grubbs 5, Quarles 5, J. Brown 4, Wallace 4, Thomas 3, C. Brown 2
Madisonville (7-1) – Eaves 17, Watkins 11, Frazier 8, McAdoo 7, Rodgers 2, Chiers 1
One Response
How about the big man on the maroons team.Outstanding young player and just a freshman. Has been a important part of the maroons bench.