Even though there was a winner and loser on the scoreboard, everyone left Lyle Dunbar Gymnasium Saturday feeling like they got their money’s worth. Christian County rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to beat Hopkinsville 105-92 in the first regular season showdown between the Eighth District rivals.
Detorrion Ware put on a show for the home crowd, scoring 51 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, and kept the Colonels afloat with 13 first quarter points as Hopkinsville jumped out to a 25-17 lead. Christian County got a little more balanced in the second quarter as they used an 18-0 run to turn a 31-19 deficit into a 37-31 lead. Damikeon Mathis scored 11 of his 16 points in the second quarter as the Colonels built a 50-42 lead by halftime.
Hopkinsville’s Stephen Cager tried to spark a comeback in the third quarter, scoring 12 of his 28 points in the frame. Hoptown trailed by as many as 15 points in the quarter but trimmed it to seven on two different occasions.
The Tigers got as close as 73-67 in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Ware scored 16 points in the final quarter to help keep Hoptown at bay.
Ware’s scoring came on 19-of-26 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 at the free throw line. Joining Ware and Mathis in double figures were Fred Tandy and Eric Brody, who both scored 12 points.
Christian County shot 58-percent from the field and got 28 points from their bench.
Cager added eight assists and four steals to his 28-point night. Bryce Smith hit five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. Don Victor and Jalen Johnson both scored 12 points.
Christian County (11-6) travels to Franklin-Simpson Tuesday, while Hopkinsville (8-11) hosts Logan County Monday.
