The Heritage Christian Academy Warriors kept visiting Butler County’s Ty Price relatively quiet over three quarters on Thursday. However, Price erupted for 21 points in the fourth to finish with 34 and send the Bears to a 74-52 win over the Warriors.
The Warriors entered the contest on a four-game skid but got out to an early 9-6 advantage after back-to-back buckets by Carlos Robles. With the game tied 13-13, Price beat the buzzer with his second three-pointer of the frame to give Butler County its first lead.
Butler led by five after a corner three by Luke Laughing, but HCA’s Camden Higgins answered with a triple for a 23-21 score. The Warriors were still within a basket after a three-pointer by Jason Leek, but six-straight points to end the half sent the Bears to the locker room with a 32-24 edge.
A Robles floater and a jumper by Leek were the Warriors’ only points over the first seven minutes of the second half, allowing the Bears to stretch the lead to 17. Robles scored on back-to-back possessions in the quarter’s final minute, but Butler beat the buzzer again on a three by Kolten Hudson.
The Warriors were back within 12 after Higgins’ three-pointer with 7:20 to play. But Price wouldn’t let them get any closer, capping his big night with a three-point play and a runner in the final seconds for the Bears’ largest lead of the night at 74-50.
Robles finished with 20 to lead HCA, joined in double figures by Leek with 14.
Heritage Christian slipped to 2-9 against KHSAA teams and 10-11 overall. The Warriors will host Livingston Central on Tuesday in the first meeting between the programs.
Butler County 16 16 16 26 — 74
Heritage Christian 13 11 8 20 — 52
Butler County (10-5) — Price 34, DeWeese 11, Castlen 10. Rice 10, Hudson 5, Laughing 3, Miller 1
Heritage Christian (10-11) — Robles 20, Leek 14, Higgins 8, Diaz 3, Gibson 3, Fowler 2, Wells 2
