A bumpy start to the 2024-2025 basketball season for the University Heights Academy Blazers hit another pothole in the road Friday night. After losing their anticipated starting point guard for at least two months in the first quarter of the first scrimmage, the Blazers have now dropped the first two games of the season on their home floor.
South Warren overcame a 35 point performance from UHA junior Tylin George as the Spartans used a 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter to pull away to a 74-64 win.
The game started off with a fireworks show from deep from both teams. The Blazers and the Spartans combined to knock down 15 3-pointers in the opening half, eight for South Warren and seven for UHA.
The first quarter saw seven lead changes and three ties. South Warren scored a late basket to take a 17-15 lead after one.
The Spartans scored the first seven points of the second quarter to push the lead out to nine at 24-15. The lead would reach 10 points at 30-20 before the Blazers, led by Tylin George, made a late run to cut the lead to 40-35 going into the break.
The Blazers came out and scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 42-40 lead and from there the rest of the quarter was much like the opening quarter. The third quarter had five ties and four lead changes before the Spartans finished with a 10-3 win to take a 60-56 lead going into the fourth quarter.
After a UHA basket to start the final quarter, the Spartans delivered the game-deciding 7-0 run.
In addition to Tylin George’s 35 points, UHA got 10 points each from Elijah Walton and Bryson Northington.
South Warren was led by Griffin Rardin with 22 points. Clay Willis finished with 14 points. Jaxen Decker had 13 and Thad Hall added 10.
University Heights Academy (0-2) is back in action Tuesday on the road at Murray.
