After two years of missing the All A Classic state tournament, the University Heights Academy Blazers begin their quest for a 10th small school state championship Thursday night facing a foe that they have never faced. The Blazers will tangle with the Raceland Rams, the champions out of the 16th Region.
The Rams earned their way to Richmond with wins over Elliott County (58-53), Fairview (64-42), and then a 53-49 title win over Menifee County in the region title game.
UHA returned to Richmond with wins over Lyon County (74-64), Crittenden County (68-34), and then a 73-35 win over Heritage Christian Academy in the 2nd Region title game.
Raceland comes into the game at 11-9, The Rams defeated West Carter Tuesday night to end a four-game losing skid.
The Rams are led by Christian Large, who was averaging 17.1 points a game going into Tuesday night’s action. Connor Thacker is the other player averaging in double figures for the Rams at 10.7 per contest.
On the Glass, Jacob Gauze is the top rebounder for Raceland at 7.2 per game. Thacker is not far behind him at 6.4 rebounds.
Raceland comes in shooting 43.5 percent from the field, including 30.6 from behind the three-point line. The Rams have been shooting 67.3 percent from the charity stripe.
The Rams do have some size with Charles Welch (6-7), Jacob Gauze (6-6), and Connor Thacker (6-4).
For UHA, the Blazers come into the tournament at 13-7. The Blazers’ loss at McCracken County Monday night ended their six-game winning streak.
UHA is led by Lemar Northington, who has been averaging more than 15 points per game. Three other players are close to double-figures scoring with those three being Elijah Walton, Quinton Quarles, and Gavin Grubs.
Walton and Northington have been the Blazers’ top two rebounders for much of the season, with Walton nearly 6 boards a game and Northington pulling down nearly 5 per contest.
UHA has been shooting around 52 percent for the year, a chunk of that attributable to baskets that are coming in transition off their defense which has hassled opponents all season long.
The Blazers have also been good from behind the arc, knocking down nearly 46 percent of their 3-point shots.
UHA has also been a team you do not want to have to put at the free throw line, as the Blazers have been hitting at better than 70 percent from the line.
UHA and Raceland will tip off at 8pm eastern time Thursday night in McBrayer Arena.
