Gavin Grubbs did it not just once Friday night for the University Heights Academy Blazers but twice. Grubbs’ 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go in regulation tied the game and forced overtime while his floater in the lane with 2.3 seconds left in the extra period was the game-winner as the Blazers got by Hopkinsville 81-79 in one of the best 2nd Region games of the season.
Hopkinsville would get a desperation shot off at the horn, but Deavery Ramey’s 3/4-court shot was well offline as the celebration broke out on the floor of Blazer Gym.
The late-game heroics from Grubbs capped off a 21-point second-half performance and carried the Blazers to their 13th win in their last fifteen games. His game-winning shot came after a forceful move to the basket by Hopkinsville’s Antonio Williams ended up with a jam that tied the game at 79-79 with 45 seconds left.
The game had been a tight battle since the very beginning. There were two ties and two lead changes in the opening quarter. Jonathan Hart’s three late in the quarter gave the Tigers a 17-14 lead.
The Blazers, getting a spark from Quinton Quarles, opened the second quarter on an 11-1 run to take a 25-18 lead. Just as it looked as if the Blazers were ready to take control, the Tigers came roaring back behind big plays from Deavery Ramey and Antonio Williams and took a 34-33 lead into the break.
Neither team led by more than three points in the third quarter. A Gavin Grubbs layup in the final moments of the quarter put UHA in front at 49-47 heading into the fourth quarter.
Jonathan Hart and Antonio Williams jumpstarted Hopkinsville to begin the fourth quarter, resulting in an 11-2 run that put the Tigers in front 58-51 and had University Heights teetering on the brink.
A Jonathan Hart three with 1:50 left gave Hopkinsville a 65-60 lead and had the Blazer faithful on edge. The lead was still at five points when Quinton Quarles buried a three with 1:15 left to make it 67-65. Antonio Williams hit 1 of 2 at the line with 20.9 seconds left to make it 68-65.
Gavin Grubbs drove to the basket with 12 seconds left, cutting the lead to 68-67. Williams made two free throws with 11.7 seconds left, setting up Grubbs’ first big play of the night.
The overtime was tied at 72, 74, and 79 before Grubbs hit the game-winning shot for the Blazers.
Gavin Grubbs led UHA with 28 points, 21 of them coming in the second half. Quinton Quarles added 23, 15 of those coming in the second half. Matthew Hauret also hit double figures with 12.
Hopkinsville’s Antonio Williams was the leading scorer in the game with 30 points. DeReion Dudley added 19 points while Jonathan Hart finished with 14 points.
UHA improves to 18-5 on the season. The Blazers will travel to Paducah Tilghman on Tuesday.
Hopkinsville drops to 9-14. The Tigers will head to Eddyville Saturday to take on Calloway County in the Akridge Ace Hardware Shootout.
HHS — 17 17 13 23 9 – 79
UHA — 14 19 16 21 11 – 81
Hopkinsville – Williams 30, Dudley 19, Hart 14, Ramey 10, Bradley 4, Moses 2
University Heights – Grubbs 28, Quarles 23, Hauret 12, Walton 6, Northington 4, Pollard 3, Cherry 3, Baker 2
