Blue Devils hitting stride as they knock off state’s No. 2 team
Ranked No. 6 in the Herald-Leader’s preseason coaches’ poll, Henry Clay took a tumble in the eyes of many after three losses in its first five games.
But the Blue Devils served notice to doubters Saturday night in knocking off the Cantrall Ratings’ No. 2 team, John Hardin, 66-59 in the Jock Sutherland Classic at Lexington Catholic: They are who we thought they were.
Marques Warrick led all scorers with 33 points, Marquis Mackey chipped in 21 and the Blue Devils (18-5) handed John Hardin only its second loss of the season. Henry Clay has won 12 straight.
“We expected to win coming in,” Warrick said of the Blue Devils’ resolve. “That’s the big thing — expecting to win.”
After eight lead changes in the games first 18 minutes, Mackey scored five straight points, including a three-pointer on a semi-break that put the Blue Devils up 32-28 early in the second half. John Hardin would tie it twice in the third quarter, but could never get the lead again.
“I’m just proud of my bunch,” Henry Clay Coach Daniel Brown said. “Playing a top-ranked team that, hopefully, we might be lucky enough to play them down in Rupp Arena or something. I thought we played really good defensively and made the right plays at the right time. We only had two turnovers in the second half. I thought that was huge.”
In other close games this season, John Hardin (25-2) has been able to turn up its full-court defensive pressure to devastating effect, including when it pulled away from Bourbon County last month in the Class 2A Championships finals.
Inside two minutes, John Hardin closed within 58-56, but Sebian Dillard found Mackey to break the press and put the Blue Devils up four and then stole the ball away seconds later and fed another Mackey layup that made it 64-58 with just 43 seconds left.
“We came up here and laid an egg,” said a disappointed John Hardin Coach Jared McCurry. “We’ll learn from it, get better from it and get better prepared.”
Alex Matthews led John Hardin with 21 points. Preston Murrell added 15.
Saturday’s Jock Sutherland Classic, named in honor of the former Lafayette player and head coach who went on to be a color commentator for University of Louisville basketball, was held a Lexington Catholic instead of Lafayette due to the school closings this week.
The day began with Simon Kenton taking down Scott County 75-71. The Pioneers Kelly Nieces scored 38 points.
In the late game, South Oldham defeated Lafayette 79-62. Luke Morrison led the Dragons with 27 points. Seth Johnson scored 24. The Generals were led by Ray Suratt’s 31.
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 1:12 PM.
