YSE File Photo
While the University Heights Academy Blazers enter this week’s 8th District tournament as the top seed, it would not be shocking to see any one of at least three teams cutting down the nets at the end of the night Friday night. Action in the tournament will get underway Monday night at Christian County High School.
The Blazers are probably considered the favorites coming in, but will likely have to play the tournament without Tylin George, who was averaging 15 points a game when he suffered a broken collarbone in the first meeting with the Christian County Colonels this season. The Blazers still have a potent offense but they are anchored by a pressure defense that can be smothering when it is cranked up to high.
However, the last time the Blazers played in Lyle Dunbar Gym, they had trouble finding the basket and the Christian County Colonels made them pay dearly. Take away Friday night’s blip on the radar for the Colonels, they have been playing as well as anyone in the district coming down the stretch of the season. Christian County can play defense as well as anyone and they have the 2nd Region’s second-best player in Derrell Bateman, who can take over a game with his outside shooting and his strength going to the basket.
And, don’t forget the Hopkinsville Tigers, who will get the chance to end Christian County’s season Wednesday night. The Tigers also have one of the region’s best players in the form of Antonio Williams and DeReion Dudley is a really good point guard who directs things on the court for Coach Anthony Babb. And, there is the fact that the Tigers have a win over Christian County and pushed the Blazers to overtime on their home court.
There is also a little history going to be made this week during the 8th District tournament. Heritage Christian Academy will be playing its first-ever game in the tournament Monday night when the Warriors take on Fort Campbell in the game between the #4 and #5 seeds in the district. The Warriors have one of the state’s top scorers in Jason Leek and have a pair of wins over the Falcons during the regular season.
That game will be the only game Monday night and will tip off at 6pm at Christian County High School.
After taking a night off for the girls’ semifinals on Tuesday, the boys will get back on the court for semifinal play Wednesday night.
The winner of the game between Heritage Christian and Fort Campbell will face off against University Heights in a 5:30pm start. The Blazers swept both teams during the regular season.
The late game Wednesday should be a fun one as crosstown rivals Hopkinsville and Christian County battle it out to see who goes on to the finals and then to the 2nd Region tournament while the loser starts making plans for 2024-2025.
The boys’ championship game is set for Friday night, following the conclusion of the 8th District girls’ championship game.
Tickets are $8 each on Monday Night
Tickets are $10 each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
A valid ticket link for each night will be available the day of the game for presale. Tickets will be sold at the gate with a card reader or QR code. There are no cash sales at the ticket gate.
