After a very tough loss in the consolation bracket final of the King of the Bluegrass Sunday after, the UHA Blazers responded with a solid win Thursday. The Blazers used a strong defensive effort in the middle two quarters to key a 71-58 win over Frederick Douglass in the opening round of the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic. Showing team balance, UHA picked up with win with KyKy Tandy scoring only six points in the contest.
Drew McGowan opened the game hot from behind the 3-point line, connecting on three of the long shots in the opening quarter. TaQuan Hollwell also had a big quarter, as the Blazers took a 16-13 lead after one.
The Blazer defense tightened down even more in the second quarter, holding Douglass to just 11 points. For the half, the Blazers defense forced Frederick Douglass into just 23.3 percent shooting from the field. UHA opened the quarter with a 9-0 spurt to take control of the contest. At the half the Blazer were up 35-24.
UHA effectively put the game away in the 3rd quarter, again with the defense setting the tone. The Blazers limited Douglass to only seven points in the quarter, as UHA extended the lead on out to 53-31 after three.
Douglass attempted to make a run late in the game, but never seriously threatened the Blazers, getting no closer than 11 points in the final moments of the game, with the Blazers finally settling for the 13 point win.
Drew McGowan came up big for the Blazers, scoring 25 points, including 5 of 7 from behind the three point line. Taquan Hollowell scored 18 points and had nine rebounds. KJ Crump had 8, while KyKy Tandy added 6.
DaShawn Jackson paced Frederick Douglass with 18 points.
UHA improves to 10-2 on the season. The Blazers advance on to take on Cooper Friday night.