The UHA Blazers got late-game big plays from a trio of players Thursday night to extend their winning streak to four games. A pair of baskets from Elijah Walton off assists from Gavin Grubbs and a huge block from Kyler Bakers help the Blazers fend off the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons 77-73 in a 2nd Region clash in Blazer Gym.
While the win extended the Blazers’ winning streak to four games it also ended the Maroons’ four-game winning streak. The Blazers have now also won 10 of their last 11 with the only loss coming to Lyon County in the championship game of the 2nd Region All A Classic.
The battle with the Maroons was a back-and-forth game from the very beginning. The first quarter alone saw four ties and four lead changes. It ended with the Blazers holding a 20-19 lead.
Landen Smith scored the first six points of the second quarter as the Maroons ran out to a 25-20 lead. Gavin Grubbs and Kyler Baker then scored six straight for the Blazers to put UHA back in front 26-25. The half ended with UHA up 33-30.
The Blazers opened the second half on a 14-6 run and looked to be about to put the game away as they took a 47-36 lead midway through the third quarter. Sparked by the play of Lamontae Ratcliff and Maverick Peyton, the Maroons responded with a 20-5 blitz to take a 56-52 lead late in the quarter.
Madisonville would carry a 58-54 lead into the final quarter.
The Maroons opened the final quarter with a pair of free throws to take a 60-54 lead. This time it was UHA that came battling back led by Elijah Walton and Gavin Grubbs. The Blazers used an 11-2 run to take a 65-62 lead and would not trail again for the rest of the game thanks to some big late-game plays.
Elijah Walton made two free throws with 8 seconds left to secure the four-point win.
Gavin Grubbs paced the Blazer effort with 23 points. Elijah Walton and Quinton Quarles finished with 17 each. Matthew Hauret had six points on two very big second-half three-pointers.
Lamontae Ratcliff and Landen Smith were the top scorers for the Maroons with 20 points each. Maverick Peyton added 13 points.
UHA goes to 15-4 with the win. The Blazers get back to action Saturday afternoon at Christian County. UHA knocked off the Colonels 77-62 last Friday night.
MNHHS — 19 11 28 15 – 73
UHA — 20 13 21 23 – 77
Madisonville-North Hopkins – Ratcliff 20, Smith 20, Peyton 13, Wilkes 8, Howard 5, Bryant 4, Cheirs 3
University Heights – Grubbs 23, Walton 17, Quarles 17, Hauret 6, Baker 4, Pollard 4, Northington 4, Cherry 2
