If you are an opponent of the Univesity Heights Academy Blazers and you have a double-digit lead at some point before the fourth quarter, you might want to look out that the Blazers have you right where they wanted you. After trailing by 11 points at the half, UHA rallied to take a 53-50 overtime win against Paducah Tilghman on Senior Night at Blazer Gym.
The Blazers struggled early in the game with the Blue Tornado defense and at times appeared to rush things on the offensive end. Add in foul trouble for Lemar Northington in the opening half and it was a recipe for a difficult start for the Blazers.
Tilghman was not able to take advantage of the Blazer struggles in the opening quarter as the Blue Tornado led just 11-9 heading into the second quarter.
With the score tied at 15-15 early in the second, Tilghman scored eight straight to go up 23-15. After a three-pointer from UHA’s Javion Brown, the Blue Tornado closed out the half with six straight points to lead 29-18 at the break. A big part of the second-quarter success for Paducah Tilghman was the play of Jayvion Powell, who scored eight points in the half.
But, as we said, apparently the Blazers had the Blue Tornado right where they wanted them.
After sitting a big part of the first half due to foul trouble, Lemar Northington came out in the third quarter and quickly revved things up. UHA opened the quarter with a 9-3 spurt to trim the lead to 32-27. Then, trailing 34-27, the Blazers hit Tilghman with a big 13-0 run to take the lead back at 40-34. The third quarter ended with UHA leading 40-37.
The fourth quarter was a story of missed opportunities. Leading 44-40, the Blazers spread the court looking to find easy scoring opportunities or force Paducah Tilghman to foul. UHA would end up with some rushed shots at times when they really did not need to score, and the Blazers missed some key free throws leaving the door open for the Blue Tornado. Jayvion Powell made two free throws with 3.4 seconds left in regulation for Paducah Tilghman to tie the game at 45-45. A long heave at the buzzer by UHA’s Elijah Walton did not find the mark and it was off to overtime.
The Blazers opened quickly in the extra period getting baskets from Quinton Quarles, Lemar Northington, and Elijah Walton to take a quick 51-45 lead. But some miscues left the door open again for Paducah Tilghman and the Blue Tornado very nearly walked right through it. They would get as close as 51-50. But Quinton Quarles stepped up and knocked down two free throws with ten seconds left and then the Blazer defense forced a turnover before Tilghman could get up a game-tying 3-point attempt and UHA had the three-point win.
Another big game for Lemar Northington. The UHA senior scored 16 points, fifteen of them in the second half. Quinton Quarles and Elijah Walton added 10 points each.
Jayvion Powell ended up with 15 for Tilghman. Mian Shaw also reached double figures with 11.
With the win, the Blazers improve to 19-9. They will wrap up the regular season Thursday night on the road at Webster County.
PTHS – 11 18 08 08 05 — 50
UHA – 09 09 22 05 08 — 53
Paducah Tilghman – Powell 15, Shaw 11, West 9, Woodfork 6, Payne 4, Harris 3, McMullen 2
University Heights – Northington 16, Quarles 10, Walton 10, Grubbs 6, Wallace 6, J. Brown 3, C. Brown 2
One Response
Great game Tilghman. Proud of team. Way to go.