Walker Valley Hosts HHCA Monday, Gives them a Challenge
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Walker Valley (15-8) could not hold onto their lead over visiting Hamilton Heights Christian Academy Monday night, a lead they earned with crisp play. Turnovers became a problem late and HHCA left Cleveland, TN with a 73-70 victory.
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy hung around, defended, and tried to annoy the strong Mustangs all night long. When the fourth quarter opened, HHCA trailed, but they continued to scrap.
End 3: 55-48, Walker Valley.
Grant Campbell (Walker Valley) dealt with the HHCA physicality quite well, though there were small tears in the fabric appearing. HHCA forced a turnover on the Mustangs, drawing the game to 58-55. Both teams hit three-pointers.
Sharpshooter Bryson Andrews Bryson Andrews 6'0" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State TN (HHCA) hit a three-pointer from the wing following another HHCA steal, evening the game at 63 with about six minutes left.
Campbell began to relent though, as Kevin de Kovachich (HHCA) and his fellow backcourt mates imposed their will defensively against the primary ball-handler. They forced multiple fourth-quarter turnovers.
Kamai Samuels
Kamai
Samuels
6'1" | PG
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy | 2026
CA-S
(HHCA) acrobatically finished a layup to improve HHCA’s score to 69-66.
Often, HHCA fed
Viktor Mikic
Viktor
Mikic
6'10" | C
Hamilton Heights | 2024
State
TN
, their 6-foot-11 center. He seemingly made all of his free throws. Two Mikic makes made the game 71-68 late.
Final Segment
Leading 71-70 with 55 seconds left in the game, Kevin de Kovachich bounded into the lane with his dribble, rose up and made a 6′ floater in traffic. Walker Valley tried to find an equalizer but turned the ball over to culminate an unforgivably sloppy fourth quarter for them.
With the ball and the lead, HHCA was fouled. Sophomore Christopheur Munyika missed both free throws and even though Kevin de Kovachich tracked down the second miss, he stepped on the endline in so doing.
Down 73-70, Walker Valley called a timeout in the forecourt. With the last 18.4 seconds they needed to at least catch the mighty HHCA Hawks.
After a few meaningless passes, Walker Valley tried another timeout. They swung the ball around the arc, searching for an opening that would not come. In the end, WVHS took a challenged jumper and missed short at the horn.
FINAL: 73-70 HHCA.
