The theme for the University Heights Academy student section on Thursday was camouflage, but it was Hopkinsville who ambushed the Blazers on their home floor and rolled to an 85-44 win.
It was a nice bounce-back victory for the Tigers who lost to Christian County last week on their home floor. The Tigers applied full-court pressure against the Blazers who were missing two guards and second-leading scorer Elijah Walton due to injury.
Hopkinsville rotated three players to guard UHA’s Tylin George, who came in the game third in the state in scoring at 32 points a game in an effort to not let one player beat them.
Picking up in the full court and trapping out top, Hopkinsville forced 19 first half turnovers from the Blazers as Hoptown turned a 22-14 lead into a 28-14 lead after one quarter when Jonovan Leavell hit a shot in the lane ahead of the horn.
James Bradley Jr.’s dunk capped an 11-2 run to begin the second quarter and saw the Tigers build a 39-16 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for the Blazers when Frank Pollard was injured going for a loose ball with 2:16 left and the Blazers down 44-21. He didn’t return after scoring six points.
Up 50-26 at halftime, the Tigers put the game away with a 9-0 run to begin the third quarter. George ended the scoreless stretch for the Blazers with a dunk with 4:17 left. However, the Tigers used another 10-2 run to trigger a running clock.
The Blazers finished with 25 turnovers that led to 38 transition points for the Tigers.
Jonathan Hart led the Tigers with 20 points. Bradley added 17 points, and Deavery Ramey scored 14 points.
George was the only Blazer to score in double figures. He had 23.
The loss drops the Blazers to 2-1 in the district. However, there is some good news on the horizon for the guys on Academy Drive.
Walton and guard Tra Bell are expected to return to the Blazer lineup next week. Bell suffered a leg injury before the All A Classic Region Tournament, and Walton was injured in the semifinal loss to Lyon County.
Also, freshman Keshawn Moore, who transferred to University Heights Academy from Todd County Central in the offseason and suffered a leg injury in a pre-season scrimmage, is expected to join his new team the first week of February.
Those additions should return the Blazers to the potency they were expecting in November.
Hopkinsville is also 2-1 in the district, and their success from their pressure defense is exactly what head coach Anthony Babb is wanting out of his team every game.
The Tigers were also successful from long range, knocking down seven 3-pointers.
The 41-point win by Hopkinsville is the largest over the Blazers since a 98-56 win in the 2015 district championship game.
Hopkinsville (6-10) returns to the floor this weekend as they travel to Evansville to play a pair of games. The Tigers will play Harrison High School on Friday night and Castle on Saturday.
University Heights Academy (4-10) hosts McCracken County on Saturday.
Hopkinsville 28 22 24 11– 85
University Heights 14 12 9 9– 44
Hopkinsville (6-10) – Hart 20, Bradley 17, Ramey 14, Leavell 12, Bass 8, Giltner 4, Moses 4, Burse 2, Kay 2, Kimbrough 2
University Heights (4-10) – George 23, Pollard 6, Fields 5, Miles 5, Luckey 3, Robinson 2
