Late in the third quarter of the KCAA Super Regional championship game Saturday, the Heritage Christian Academy Warriors found themselves with their backs against the wall. They were down to Bethel Christian by six points and they just seemed to have trouble finding their offensive rhythm.
It was then that the Warriors decided they were just not gonna let this Super Regional title get away from them in the final appearance in the game. HCA closed out the third quarter with a big run and went on to run past Bethel 53-43 and claim the title.
Heritage took an early 12-6 lead in the contest, only to see Bethel battle back and cut the lead to 14-13 at the end of the first quarter. Carlos Robles had a great start for HCA, scoring eight points.
The Blue Flames got their offense flowing a bit better in the second quarter. With Haylen Dean outside and Isiah Poteet on the inside combining to score all 14 of Bethel’s points in the second, the Blue Flames came battling back to take a 27-24 lead into the break.
Bethel opened the second half outscoring the Warriors 6-3 to push the lead out to 33-27 and HCA looked to be in a little bit of trouble. But then the Warriors do what champions do, and that is finding a way to push through.
Jason Leek drilled a deep three to cut the lead to 33-30. A Carlos Robles steal and layup, followed by a Robles rebound and layup at the other end, and suddenly, HCA was back in front 34-33. The Warriors closed out the quarter with a 10-1 run and led 37-34 going into the final eight minutes of the game.
The Blue Flames would not go quite that easy, however. Isiah Poteet hit from three and then scored an old-fashioned three-point play with 5:19 to go in the game to even things up at 42-42. But that would be the end of the threat for Bethel.
HCA got a big late basket from Manny Diaz and the duo of Robles and Leek helped seal the deal as the Warriors pulled out for the 10-point win.
Robles had a super effort at both ends of the court for the Warriors, scoring 24 points on the night. Leek added 18 points, 13 of them coming in the second half. Leek and Diaz, who scored six points, were named to the All-Tournament team. Robles was named the MVP of the tournament.
Haylan Dean finished with 15 for Bethel. Isiah Poteet ended the game with 14 points.
HCA – 14 10 13 16 — 53
BCA – 13 14 07 09 — 43
Heritage Christian – Robles 24, Leek 18, Diaz 6, Fowler 3, Gibson 2
Bethel Christian – H. Dean 15, Poteet 14, Cooney 6, E. Dean 5, Clemons 3
