For a half Tuesday night, it looked as if the Fort Campbell Falcons might just pick up their first win over University Heights Academy in nearly 17 years and end their long losing streak to 8th District opponents. However, the Blazers simply would not allow their All A tradition to fall quite that easy.
UHA broke open a tight game with a strong third-quarter effort from Hayden Hunt and Nash McAfee and went on to take a 73-64 win over the Falcons and advance to the 2nd Region All A Classic semifinals, where the Blazers will match up against the Dawson Springs Panthers.
Fort Campbell scored the first basket of the night but the Blazers responded with 6 straight points to take a 6-2 lead. The Blazers led throughout the opening quarter but it was the Falcons who had the momentum at the end when Joseph Katz drained a three to make it a 15-14 UHA lead after the first eight minutes.
The game stayed close throughout the second quarter and again at the end of the quarter it was the Falcons who took the momentum. Tyreek Anthony stole an inbounds pass in the final seconds and beat the horn with a layup to keep the game a one-point contest with UHA leading 34-33 at the half.
Garrett Vanetta hit a three to open the third, giving the Falcons the lead at 36-34. The Blazers responded with what turned out to be the game-deciding run.
Hayden Hunt tied the game at 36. With the game tied at 38, Nash McAfee hit a three and Tabor Vincent found the basket to make it 43-38. After a timeout it was a Blazer hoop, another McAfee three and a Hunt layup, and suddenly it was 50-40. Keshawn Moore scored in the final seconds of the quarter to make it 54-42 as UHA took a 12-point lead into the final quarter.
The Blazers were still up 12 with just over five minutes to go at 61-49 when Fort Campbell made a last ditch rally attempt. A Tyreek Anthony tip-in on a missed three had the Falcons within 62-58 with 2:50 left.
But would be the end of that. A Keshawn Moore putback on a third shot attempt, followed by a Ryan Luckey three ended the Fort Campbell rally as the Blazers went on to take the 9-point win.
Hayden Hunt with a huge night for UHA with 27 points. Keshawn Moore added 23 points. Nash McAfee also reached double figures with 13.
Garrett Vanetta led the Falcons with 20 points. Tyreek Anthony hit for 19 points. Joseph Katz was in double digits with 13 points.
UHA improves to 4-5 with the win and will take on Dawson Springs Friday night at 6pm.
Fort Campbell falls to 4-9 and will be back in action next Monday at Webster County.
