It may well have been the best eight minutes of basketball the UHA Blazers have played all season, and at the time it happened, they needed all eight of those moments. After shooting just 25.8-percent in the first half, the Blazers found themselves down 23-17 as the second half was ready to begin. Then came a second half explosion that ended up with a 69-46 Blazer win and a trip to the semifinals of the 2019 All A Classic.
If not for the first half play of Taquan Hollowell, and the defensive efforts of Will Bryan, the Blazers might have been in even more trouble. They had been outrebounded 27-12, and KyKy Tandy had scored only four points. There was some angst among the UHA faithful that had made the trip to Richmond. Then the second half started.
Whatever Coach Grant Shouse said and did in the locker room at halftime, he needs to bottle it up and save it for future days ahead, or sell it and make a bunch of money, because when the Blazers came out for the second half, they looked like a very dangerous basketball team.
UHA opened the 3rd quarter on an 8-0 run to take the lead for the first time at 25-23. Newport briefly responded to take a 26-25 lead. Then, led by suffocating defensive pressure, the Blazers delivered a roundhouse that staggered the Wildcats. UHA outscored Newport 20-6 over the final six minutes of the 3rd quarter to take a 45-32 lead. A big spark in the 3rd quarter was the play of DJ Quarles, who scored seven points in the quarter. Taquan Hollowell, who had a big first half, continued that effort into the 3rd quarter.
Newport made one last gasp to get back in the game at the beginning of the 4th quarter. The Wildcats went on a 7-0 spurt to cut the lead to 45-39. The Newport fans were roaring, sensing a big comeback for their team.
Taquan Hollowell scored five quick points to push the UHA lead out to 50-39. The Wildcats cut the lead back to eight at 52-44, but then came “Tandy Time.” The future Xavier Musketeer, who had struggled from the field in the first half unleashed a furious attack on the Wildcats that ended the game. UHA went on a 17-0 run to blow the lead out to 69-44 and sent the Blazers on to Saturday night.
KyKy Tandy paced UHA with 26 points, including 8-8 from the line, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Taquan Hollowell scored 19 points and pulled down 9 rebounds. He added three steals. DJ Quarles came off the bench for 10 points and 4 rebounds in 29 big minutes of action. Will Bryan added 6 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists for the Blazers.
Tahj Harding had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Newport, but most of his damage was done in the first half of play. Makhi McGuire and Donnie Miller added 8 points each for the Wildcats.
UHA improves to 19-3 on the season and will advance on to the semifinals of the All A state tournament. The Blazers will take on Shelby Valley Saturday night at 7:30pm ET. The winner will play for the All A championship Sunday afternoon.