Caldwell County’s offense continued to have the hot hand Thursday night, connecting at a 58.1 percent clip from the floor during a 74-60 victory over Brighton, Tenn., in the West Kentucky Hoops Classic in Princeton.
Tripp Branch was perfect shooting the ball, going 7-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and making all six of his free throw attempts during a 23-point performance to pace the Tigers.
Derrin Boyd added 18 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for Caldwell while Cayden Fraliex had 17 points.
Caldwell (9-3) was collectively 10 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc against Brighton. In two wins at the West Kentucky Hoops Classic on Thursday, including an 82-36 triumph over Fulton City, the Tigers connected on 22 of 39 3-point attempts for 56.4 percent.
Caldwell trailed only briefly at 3-2 against Brighton before building a 20-14 lead after one quarter.
The Tigers got 3-pointers from Boyd, Branch and Fraliex in the second quarter and took a 37-26 advantage to the break.
Brighton (8-6) got as close as 43-39 midway through the third quarter as the Cardinals threatened to make a game of it.
But Caldwell went back to work from long range — 3-pointers from Boyd, Branch and Fraliex helping to put the Tigers up 55-41 through three quarters.
Brighton got no closer than 11 points in the final 8 minutes as Caldwell won for the ninth time in its last 10 outings.
John Davis had eight points for the Tigers while Adarius Riley and Jamarius Blaine scored four points apiece.
Curtavious Holmes led Brighton with 17 points. Anthony Smith had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Cardinals while Marteze Logan added 11 points.
The West Kentucky Hoops Classic continues on Friday at Caldwell County’s CAB gym. The Tigers will play their final game in the event at 8 p.m. against Clarksville Northeast. Northeast defeated Booker T. Washington of Memphis 62-60 in its lone game on Thursday.
