Make it 32 straight wins for the University Heights Academy Blazers over the Fort Campbell Falcons. The latest win in the series for the Blazers came Tuesday night as UHA got 36 points from KeShawn Moore and pulled away from the Falcons in the second half to take 80-69 in an 8th District contest in Blazer Gym.
A track meet broke out as this one got underway, as both teams were off and running in high gear. Led by the play off Tyreek Anthony and Kyre Ferguson, the Falcons held the lead for most of the quarter before University Heights took the lead to end the quarter at 23-22.
Fort Campbell’s outside shooting and the Blazers attack of the basket were the big stories of the first 8 minutes of the game. The Falcons were 6 of 11 from behind the 3-point line, including four made 3’s from Tyreek Anthony, who scored 12 points in the quarter.
At the other end of the floor, UHA was driving the ball to the basket at every opportunity and converting a high percentage of those chances, scoring 7 shots at the rim. KeShawn Moore had 7 points in the quarter for UHA. The Blazers also got some big defensive plays from Hayden Hunt and Jaiden Miles.
The tempo continued to be high energy as the second quarter got rolling with the two teams swapping the lead back and forth for the first five minutes. A jumper in the lane from KeShawn Moore, a drive from Hunt, and then a putback from Moore gave the Blazers a little room at 37-32 with under three minutes to go in the half, but a three from Kyre Ferguson quickly cut that lead back down to two points.
The Blazers seemed to take the momentum going into the half when KeShawn Moore pushed the ball up the court, took a step across the mid-court line, and swished a three that put UHA up 44-37 going into the locker room. Moore had 14 points in the quarter and 21 for the half.
Tyreek Anthony and Kyre Ferguson were doing their best to keep the Falcon in the game. Anthony finished the half with 18 points and Ferguson had 12, all coming on four 3-pointers. Fort Campbell knocked down nine shots from behind the arc in the first 16 minutes of the game.
The momentum stayed with the Blazers as the second half started. Kayn Simmons intercepted a pass and took it in for the slam and then caught a lob on the break from Moore to push the lead out to 48-37 in the first 35 second of the half, prompting a quick timeout from Falcon coach Austin Byrum.
The two teams played it out fairly even for the rest of the quarter. UHA was able to head into the final quarter holding a 65-52 lead. In addition to the 13 point deficit, the Falcons also had a foul problem as Tyreek Anthony picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls in a 30 second span late in the third.
UHA got big quarters from Moore (7), Hunt (6), and Kayn Simmons (6), who combined to scored 20 points in the third. Fort Campbell continued the three-point barrage with Kyre Ferguson knocked down two more, giving the Falcons ten for the game, six of them coming from Ferguson.
With Hayden Hunt and KeShawn Moore providing the spark, UHA opened the final quarter with a quick 7 to 2 spurt to push the lead out to 72-54 with 5:38 left in the game. Fort Campbell made a late charge but could get no closer than 11 points as the Blazers held on for the district win.
In addition to Moore’s 36 points, which included four 3-pointers, Hayden Hunt finished with 20 points. Freshman Kayn Simmons came up with a big night, added 11 points for the Blazers.
Kyre Ferguson led Fort Campbell with 34 points, including going 10 of 15 from behind the 3-point line. Tyreek Anthony added 22 points, but the Blazers locked down on him in the second half, allowing him just one field goal and two free throws over the final 16 minutes. Garrett Vanetta chipped in 7 points.
UHA finished the game shooting 34 of 60, including 28 of 37 inside the arc.
Fort Campbell was much better bombing away from deep. The Falcons hit 16 of 38 threes, but only 6 of 32 inside the 3-point line.
UHA improves to 6-10 with the win and put an end to a five-game losing skid. The Blazers are scheduled to take on Caldwell County Thursday night at home.
Fort Campbell falls to 6-12 with the loss and sees their two-game winning streak come to a stop. The Falcons are scheduled to take on Livingston Central Thursday night in Smithland.
The last win for Fort Campbell in the series came back in 2009 8th District tournament.
