The two winningest Region 2 All “A” Basketball Tournament programs will meet in the semifinal round after advancing in their respective games on Tuesday night.
At Heritage Christian Academy, University Heights Academy used a 33-point performance from Tylin George and 21 from senior Elijah Walton to pull away from the Warriors 84-66. The Blazers will meet the Lyon County Lyons in the semifinals. Lyon routed Crittenden County 90-29 Tuesday in Marion.
HCA (3-9) led UHA 16-12 after one quarter as the state’s top scorer Jason Leek and his backcourt mate Ethan Miles got off to a good start from behind the 3-point line.
However, midway through the second quarter, UHA went to a press and solved the Warriors’ triangle-and-one defense to erase a six-point deficit and claim a 37-29 halftime advantage.
Leek also picked up his third foul midway through the second quarter, which limited the defensive ability of the Warriors’ star.
George and Walton got their offense going as the two of them accounted for 27 of the Blazers’ 37 first-half points.
Walton continued his torrid pace in the third quarter and Frank Pollard began to assert his presence in the paint as UHA (3-8) outscored HCA 23-18 in the third quarter to push its advantage to 60-47.
Leek earned his fourth foul in the third quarter and the Blazers took the ball right at the senior guard in the final period. George and Walton continued to pour it on as UHA extended its lead to 22 points midway through the final quarter.
Blazers’ coach Terry Hayes emptied his bench in the final minutes as HCA closed the gap to within 84-66.
In addition to Walton and George, Pollard reached double figures for the Blazers with 10 points.
Leek finished with 31 points and Miles had 10 for the Warriors, who return to action Tuesday night against Hopkins County Central at Warrior Gym.
The Lyons and Blazers are set to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Dawson Springs High School. UHA Athletics Director Taylor Sparks confirmed to WHOP this morning that the game has been moved to Thursday before the incoming snowstorm expected to arrive on Friday.
The other first-round games were postponed due to weather. Caldwell County is scheduled to play Fort Campbell at 7:30 p.m. today. Livingston Central is scheduled to play tonight at 6 against Dawson Springs.
Score by Quarters:
University Heights 12 25 23 24 – 84
Heritage Christian 16 13 18 19 – 66
Individual Scoring:
UHA (3-8) – Thomas 5, Pollard 10, Daniels 8, George 33, Luckey 7, Walton 21.
HCA (3-9) – Miles 10, Leek 31, Wheatcraft 7, Thompson 9, Kirkman 4, Morgan 5.
3-Point goals: UHA – Thomas, George, Luckey, Walton; HCA – Miles 2, Leek 3, Wheatcraft, Morgan.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis