University Heights enters the 2021 Sweet 16® hoping that the final day of March is not a repeat of the first day of February.  On that day...on their home court...the Blazers were blasted by DG Sherrill's Bowling Green Purples, to the tune of 88-50.  UHA's most humbling loss of the season seemed to be the turnaround point, though, as the Blazers would finish the regular season winners in 13 of 16 games.

Grant Shouse's club is certainly battle-tested in the postseason.  UHA went to Overtime to beat Hopkinsville in the 8th District Championship, then opened up the 2nd Region Tournament with a narrow 80-79 defeat of Crittenden County, and finally held off Madisonville-North Hopkins by 2 in the Region Finals.  A quartet of seniors lead the way for the Blazers: KJ Crump (17.1 ppg), DJ Quarles (16.7 ppg), Amani McGee (14.2 ppg), and William Bryan (10.2 ppg).

Meanwhile, Bowling Green returns to Rupp Arena for the first time since 2017, when the Purples took home the big trophy.  Bowling Green has already played 33% of its competition in the 2021 Sweet 16® field, earning wins against McCracken County (77-58), Ashland (83-57), and its first round opponent University Heights (88-50).  They also suffered a pair of losses to Elizabethtown (64-36) and Ballard (61-45).  The Purples are led by senior guard Isaiah Mason (17.8 ppg) and junior backcourt mate Turner Buttry (14.9 ppg).

Does UHA avenge the earlier loss or will Bowling Green come out on top again?

I don't think Bowling Green wins by 38, but I do think they win comfortably.  Purples by 19.

The 2nd region did not have a lot of size this season. I think the earlier matchup serves UHA well as they won't be shocked by it on the first play. But, BG just has such a large talent advantage.

This was probably the worst year of basketball in the second region in years. UHA probably had a lucky draw as they avoided Hopkinsville  and Lyon in the Region. They beat a good Madisonville team in the finals. BG is a good solid team but on a big floor at Rupp anything can happen!

Let's go Purples!

2021 KHSAA Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® presented by UK HealthCare Orthopaedics
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UHA 6 BG 2

Bowling Green beat my McCracken Mustangs comfortably. McCracken beat UH in two close contests. Got to go with the Purples in this one.

12-10 Bowling Green at the 1st quarter media timeout (2:43).

16 to 14 BG.

After 1 quarter:

Bowling Green - 18
University Heights - 17

22-17 Bowling Green with 6:13 left in the 2nd quarter.

Real good game so far considering the vast difference in their R.P.I. ratings. 

BG = .71862

UH= .56856

UHA is shooting 28% from the floor compared to BG's 50%.

3 minutes ago, Randy Parker said:

UHA is shooting 28% from the floor compared to BG's 50%.

Sounds about right.