After suffering a 105-92 setback at Christian County on Saturday, the Hopkinsville boys’ basketball team got back on track with a 80-59 win over visiting Logan County on Monday. The Tigers have won three of four and stand at 9-11 on the year, while Logan County slips below .500 at 11-12.
With 4:11 to play in the first quarter, senior point guard Jalen Johnson knocked down a pull-up jumper to give the Tigers an 11-10 lead. The Tigers would score the next 7, capped off by a drive and layup from Johnson, to take an 18-10 lead. Hoptown called a timeout after collecting a loose ball with just under a minute left, and held the ball for the last shot of the quarter. Senior point guard Stephen Cager drove and scored with 7 seconds remaining, and the Tigers led 23-13 after the first eight minutes.
Just over a minute into the second quarter, junior shooting guard James Nicholas hit one of two free throws, and the Tigers doubled up the Cougars at 26-13 and seemed to be on their way to an easy night. A Johnson three stretched the lead to 29-14, but Logan County hit back-to-back threes of its own to jump start a 13-1 run and pull to within 3 at 30-27 with 2:49 left in the half. A basket by junior shooting guard Don Victor with a minute to play gave the Tigers some breathing room at 36-30, but senior Austin Rayno hit a runner at the buzzer and the Cougars only trailed 36-32 at the half.
Rayno had a huge half for the Cougars, pouring in 17 points to lead all scorers. Johnson’s 9 led the Tigers, followed by Cager’s 7, and Nicholas posted 6. Cager found himself in foul trouble, going to the bench with his third foul only two minutes into the second quarter.
Hopkinsville reopened a double-digit lead three minutes into the second half, leading 48-38 after a three pointer by freshman point guard Alijah Watts. Johnson hit consecutive threes to push the lead to 12, but the Cougars weren’t ready to go away and got to within 8, before senior guard Bryce Smith closed the quarter with a three pointer and Hopkinsville led 60-49.
The Tigers finally pulled away, going on a 14-3 run to lead 74-52 halfway through the final quarter. The run was fueled by a couple of Tiger seniors, with Johnson hitting two three pointers and Smith chipping in 4. Hopkinsville cruised in from there, with both teams clearing their benches with 1:15 to play and the Tigers going on to win 80-59.
Johnson scored 25 along with 6 rebounds, draining four second-half three pointers and five for the game. Cager overcame foul trouble to score 15 along with 3 steals and 3 assists, followed by Smith with 11 and Watts with 10. Junior forward Jacarius Burks and Nicholas both finished with 6, Victor scored 4 and junior small forward Tefrell Tolliver had a point. Junior center Jamarion Sharp had 4 blocked shots, 3 rebounds and 2 points.
Logan’s Austin Rayno had 17 first half points, but was shut out in the second half with Cager paying him particular attention. Junior Tommy Krohn had 13, including 9 in the second half, and junior Kelby Epley scored 9.
Up next for the Tigers is a trip to Elkton on Tuesday to face the Todd County Central Rebels (12-9). On Thursday, they have a big 2nd Region match-up on the road at Henderson County (9-9).
