After an 84-75 win at University Heights six days ago, the Colonels and Blazers renewed their rivalry Tuesday night in Colonel Gym, with Christian County winning 74-64. With the win, the Colonels claim the top seed in the 8th District tournament, and complete the season sweep of the Blazers. Christian County has now won six straight, improving to 16-6 overall and 5-0 in district play. The Blazers have lost three of four to fall to 14-7, 3-2 within the district.
The Colonels jumped out to a 12-4 lead, with seniors Detorrion Ware and Cory Trice combining for 10 early points. A three pointer by Blazers’ junior guard Kyky Tandy, followed by a bucket by junior forward TaQuan Hollowell, cut the Colonel lead to 6 at 17-11. However, a Ware three stretched the lead to 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Senior forward Malik Lovan scored to pull the Blazers to within 4 at 22-18 with 5:50 left in the second quarter, but the Colonels responded with a basket and one of two free throws to lead 25-18. Lovan was injured on a foul, with senior Kwon Dorsey stepping to the line and hitting two free throws to cut the Colonel lead to 25-22 with 3:23 remaining in the half. Tandy scored over Ware to cut the lead to 1, but Colonel senior forward JaQuon Long converted a three-point play to push the lead to 28-24. With 1:26 to go, Hollowell scored and was fouled, knocking down the free throw to give the Blazers their first lead at 29-28. Freshman KJ Crump forced a Colonel turnover and hit Tandy in the open floor for a dunk at the halftime buzzer, giving the Blazers a 33-30 lead.
Tandy led the Blazers with 12 first-half points, followed by Hollowell with 7. Ware scored 14 for the Colonels, including 11 in the first quarter, with Trice putting up 7.
Ware scored 5 straight to tie the game at 35, before Long scored to give the Colonels back the lead at 37-35 with 5:58 left in the third quarter. Long hit a three and the Colonels led by 5, before Hollowell rattled home a dunk to cut the lead to 3. With 1:49 left in the period, UHA took a timeout after a layup by Long gave the Colonels their first double-digit lead of the game at 49-39. After the teams traded turnovers, Langhi caught a deflected pass and beat the buzzer for a 53-46 Colonel lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A Langhi rebound and score with six minutes to play put the Colonels up 59-46, and they would maintain a double-digit lead for the rest of the way. The Colonels took their largest lead of the game at 67-50 after a basket by junior forward Fred Tandy, and went on to secure the 74-64 win.
Ware poured in 30 for the Colonels, followed by Long with 17, including 12 in the second half. Trice finished with 11 points, Fred Tandy had 8, Langhi scored 6, and sophomore guard Damikeon Mathis chipped in 2.
Tandy put up 25 for the Blazers, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, and Crump scored 14. Hollowell scored 13, with Dorsey, Lovan, and junior guard Drew McGowan finishing with 4 each.
Both teams face Hopkinsville in their next outing, with the Blazers traveling to Tiger Gym on Thursday. The Colonels square off with the Tigers on Saturday, after winning 105-92 on January 27.