The phrase has it that all good things must come to an end. And, in Kentucky high school basketball corners, that phrase has an addition that goes something like, “but better it ends during the regular season.”
The UHA Blazers saw their seven game winning streak come to an end Saturday night as they fell to Briarcrest Christian 76-65. The loss was the first for the Blazers since they lost to Mayfiend on January 12. Two of the Blazers four losses have now come to out of state private schools, Briarcrest Christian and Brentwood Academy.
The game was an offensive showcase in the first quarter, as both teams managed to put up points. By the end of the quarter, Briarcrest, who is now 20-2, held a four point lead at 26-22.
The second quarter would end up being the turning point of the game. Briarcrest cranked up their defense and limited the Blazers to just 12-points in the quarter, as they extended their lead out to 45-34 at the break.
The Blazers tried to get back into the game during the third quarter, and actually outscore Briarcrest by two in the quarter. UHA was back within single digits headed into the final eight minutes at 63-54.
However, Briarcrest was able to do enough down the stretch to hold on for the win and extend the final margin out to eleven points.
UHA was led by KyKy Tandy with 25 points. Drew McGowan added 17, while Taquan Hollowell was also in double figures with 11.
Briarcrest was paced by Omari Thomas and Kennedy Chandler with 23 points each. The 6-foot-4 Thomas is one of the top offensive linemen in Tennessee football and holds college offers from Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee among others.
The Blazers drop to 22-4 on the season, and will return to Tuesday when they host Christian County.