For three quarters, it looked like the Fort Campbell Falcons were going to break a 16-year losing streak in the Boys’ District 8 Basketball Tournament. But then, in a blink of an eye, the Heritage Christian Academy Warriors found their shooting eye and rallied for a 63-55 win Monday night in the first round of the tournament.
HCA’s senior guard Jason Leek, who leads the state in scoring at 35.2 points per game, got rolling late in the first half and pumped in 21 of his 35 points in the second half to lead the Warriors’ comeback.
Leek and sophomore Jacob Morgan combined for three 3-pointers in an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter that saw HCA grab a 49-46 lead with 5:00 remaining in the game. Nathan Wheatcraft also hit a key 3-pointer for the Warriors in the fourth.
Down the stretch, senior forward Sam Thompson had a pair of big put-back baskets and Morgan and Leek hit five of six free throws to seal the win.
Fort Campbell jumped out to an early double-digit lead and led the entire first half. But HCA scored the first six points of the third quarter to grab its first lead, 29-28, with 6:12 to go in the period.
The Falcons (3-25) quickly answered with a 13-2 run to take a 41-31 advantage with 1:58 left in the third quarter. Fort Campbell’s Tyreek Anthony, who led the team with 19 points, went to the bench with his fourth foul late in the third and the Warriors took advantage, drawing within 46-43 entering the final period.
Leek’s bucket with 6:28 left in the game gave the Warriors a 47-46 lead and they would never relinquish the advantage the rest of the way.
Fort Campbell had four players in double figures as Jamile Wilson had 13 points, Israel Dillard added 11 and Kingston Morton provided 10.
Thompson was the only other Warrior to earn double figures, as he scored 10, including six in the second half.
The Warriors (11-17) move on to play Hopkinsville (14-14) tonight in the first semifinal game at 5:30 p.m. in Tiger Gym. The Tigers beat the Warriors 91-51 in their only meeting this season.
Airtime for tonight’s game is set for 5:15 p.m. on Newsradio 99.3 FM and 1230 AM WHOP.
Score By Quarters:
Fort Campbell 15 13 18 9 – 55
Heritage Christian 8 15 20 20 – 63
Individual Scoring:
FCHS (3-25) – Tow 2, Wilson 13, Dillard 11, Anthony 19, Morton 10.
HCA (11-17) – Leek 35, Wheatcraft 5, Arvin 2, Thompson 10, Kirkman 3, Morgan 8.
3-Point Goals:
FCHS – Morton; HCA – Leek 3, Wheatcraft, Morgan 2.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis
