See game-ending dunk that sealed victory at end of article
Three weeks after grinding out a 49–34 win that resembled more of a football score than a basketball game, Henderson County and Union County turned Friday night’s rematch into an offensive showcase.
In a loud Dr. Doug Hines Gymnasium, both teams came out firing from beyond the arc before Henderson pulled away late for a 65–58 victory.
The Colonels improved to 17–4 on the season, while Union County dropped to 13–8.
Union scrapped the zone-heavy approach it had used in January and opened in man-to-man defense, immediately changing the rhythm of the game. The pace was quicker, the looks were cleaner, and shots began falling early.
Junior sharpshooter Amare Stewart wasted no time setting the tone.
After being fouled on a three-pointer in the opening minutes and calmly sinking all three free throws, Stewart caught fire from deep. He knocked down shots from the corner, the wing, and the top of the key, pouring in five three-pointers in the first half alone. By halftime, Stewart had 20 points, and Henderson held a 39–28 advantage.
“My teammates found me, and I was ready to shoot,” Stewart said. “The coaches put together some good play-calls against their defense.”
Stewart entered the game shooting 43 percent from three on the season, averaging nearly two and a half makes per contest. Friday’s performance only boosted those numbers and gave Henderson early breathing room.
“I thought we moved the ball really well in the first half,” Henderson head coach Tyler Smithhart said. “We withstood their runs and played solid defense.”
Still, Union didn’t go quietly.
Senior Daishawn Curry led the charge with 18 points, attacking from all three levels. Cale Johnson added 12 points, knocking down four three-pointers to keep the Colonels’ defense honest.
Despite Stewart not scoring in the second half, Henderson maintained control through rebounding and timely buckets. Malaikye Taylor, Xavion Johnson and Zayden Martin were active on the glass, generating second-chance opportunities down the stretch.
Union trimmed the deficit to 41–35 midway through the third quarter and closed within 50–45 by the end of the frame. The fourth quarter brought even more tension. Curry’s inside scoring cut the Henderson lead to three with under four minutes to play, and Union briefly switched defensive looks to try to disrupt Henderson’s flow.
But the Colonels never unraveled.
“This team is tough, and they stayed even keel,” Smithhart said. “They’re finding ways to close out games.”
Taylor delivered a key putback that sat on the back of the rim before dropping. Johnson attacked downhill for tough finishes, pushing the lead to 57–50 with under three minutes remaining. Union’s three-point shooting cooled in the final stretch, and Henderson capitalized.
The exclamation point came in the final seconds. After converting free throws to extend the margin, Johnson picked Curry’s pocket and rose for a thunderous dunk with 13 seconds remaining.
“Credit to Union County, they hit some tough shots,” Smithhart said. “We’ve got to continue to stay sharp in all facets of our offense, but when you have guys who make the right play offensively, good things are going to happen.”
The victory marked Henderson’s 12th straight win over Union County, continuing a streak that has stretched over multiple seasons.
“They have one of the loudest gyms in our district and region,” Stewart said. “It’s a tough place to play. We were glad to come out with a win.”
Coming off a marquee win over Top-25 Lyon County and a district victory over Webster County, the Colonels continue to build momentum as February rolls on.
Their next matchup comes Monday night at Hopkins County Central.
BOX SCORE
HCHS (17–4) 65
Amare Stewart 20 (5 3FG), Xavion Johnson 16, Travis Little 9, Malaikye Taylor 8, Zayden Martin 6, Zephaniah Thomas 4, Braden Williams 2
UCHS (13–8) 58
Daishawn Curry 18, Cale Johnson 12 (4 3FG), Hayden Mills 8, Gavyn Black 5, MJ Patterson 4, Jace Wilson 4, Thomas Davis 3, Bubba Rapier 4
ROUNDUP
Colonels edge Lyon County on the road, 53-51 (Feb. 2)
Amare Stewart scored 25 points and knocked down five three-pointers as Henderson County earned a 53-51 road win over Lyon County. Zayden Martin added 14 points in the tight victory over a top-25 team.
Colonels handle Webster County at home, 67-52 (Feb. 3)
Amare Stewart led Henderson County with 15 points in a 67-52 home win over Webster County. Malaikye Taylor added 12, Xavion Johnson had 11, and Travis Little scored 9 as the Colonels secured the district victory.
