In the first Top 10 Matchup of the 2016 Forcht Bank King of the Bluegrass it was No. 6 Ballard (4-0) toppling No. 3 Paul Dunbar (5-2). The opening five minutes of play were dominated by the Bruins who jumped out to a 20-4 lead. The Bulldogs got things going quickly though outscoring Ballard 11-0 over the final three minutes of the opening period trailing 21-15 at the quarter break. Dunbar continued their run early in the second quarter cutting the lead to 25-24 just two minutes later. A Taveion Hollingsworth jumper midway through the second quarter tied the game at 26-26. The two teams exchanged the lead twice over the final three minutes of play with a Clivonte Patterson layup giving Ballard a 34-30 lead at halftime.
Early in the third quarter the Bruins kept the pressure coming extending their lead to as many as 6 on three different occasions. Hollingsworth kept the Bulldogs in it late in the third quarter reeling off four straight to jump start a 7-2 run to pull Dunbar within 46-45. Ballard's stingy defense helped them pull back into the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Bruins took their largest lead of the half at 62-53 with just two minutes remaining in play. Dunbar would not give up though as Javea Richardson poured in five straight points to cut the Ballard lead to 62-58 with 55 seconds remaining. Clutch free throw shooting down the stretch helped Ballard pull back ahead to clinch the 67-58 victory.
Dunbar's Taveion Hollingsworth, the favorite for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball honors, led all scorers with a game-high 26 points. JaQuice Gray and Jared Gadd each added 9 points for the Bulldogs. Ballard was led by senior Jamil Wilson with 17 points and Clivonte Patterson added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Antoine Darby also reach double figures for the Bruins adding 12 points.
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UP NEXT:
Ballard vs. Winner Bowling Green/Doss - Sunday 7:30pm
Dunbar vs. Loser Bowling Green/Doss - Sunday 7:30pm
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