For a big part of the girls’ 8th District championship game Wednesday night, it looked as if the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers would roll to the title. Then, after a big Christian County run late in the game, it looked as if the Lady Colonels would rally for the title. But, despite second half turnover issues and losing a 13 point second half lead, the Lady Tigers willed themselves to come from behind late in the 4th quarter and pick up an intense 50-48 win over Christian County and claim the title.
The Hopkinsville defense caused the Lady Colonels issues from the very beginning of the game. Christian County held Hopkinsville scoreless for the first 4:30 of the contest. Christian County struggled against UHA’s 2-3 zone on Monday night, and Wednesday night they would see the zone again. Hoptown began the game with their usual full court press until the half-court, and then they would drop back in the 2-3 zone, daring the Lady Colonels to beat them from deep.
Hopkinsville hit the Lady Colonels with a 9-0 run to open the game. Christian County would not score until Amari Brown buried a three from the wing with 3:30 to go in the opening quarter to make it a 9-3 game. Hopkinsville’s aggressive defense did lead to one problem for the Lady Tigers and that was foul trouble. Hoptown was whistled for six fouls in the first five minutes of the game, On the positive side, it did generate several Christian County turnovers in the opening quarter.
Late in the quarter, as Christian County began to turn up the defensive heat, they too began to develop foul issues. And, they too began to force some turnovers. By the end of the quarter, the teams had been whistled for a total of 14 fouls and committed 13 turnovers.
Thanks in big part to the opening 9-0 run, Hopkinsville would lead 13-5 after the opening eight minutes. Donisha Flowers and Jakayla Epps each had 5 points for Hoptown, while Amari Brown had all five for Christian County.
The Lady Colonels offensive woes continued early in the 2nd quarter, as they struggled to get the ball to find the basket. Hopkinsville opened the quarter with a 8-4 start to extend the lead out to 21-9 with just under five minutes to go. With the foul situation, Hopkinsville had chances to extend the lead, and Christian County had chances to cut into the lead, but neither team could make much headway at the free throw line in the second quarter.
By the time the two teams left the court at the half, the Hopkinsville lead was at 10 points at 26-16. Fouls and turnovers were the story of the opening half as the teams combined for 25 fouls and 25 turnovers.
The early part of the 3rd quarter saw more of the same, as the Lady Tigers would extend the lead out to as many as 13 points at 35-22. Then, Hoptown caught the turnover bug. The Lady Tigers would commit 10 turnovers in the quarter, and Christian County would finish the quarter on a 9-1 run to cut the lead to 36-31 headed into the final quarter.
Christian County’s rally continued at the beginning of the 4th quarter, as they opened the quarter on a 9-1 run to go up 40-37. The Lady Colonels would push that lead out to 45-41 and looked to have the Lady Tigers on the brink. However, despite 2nd half turnover issues and foul problems, the Lady Tigers found a way and willed their way back to the front.
Led by Jakayla Epps and Shaterrea Bellamy, Hopkinsville went on a 9-0 run to take a 50-45 lead in the final seconds. Christian County would add a three with 1 second to go, but could not get a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass as the game came to an end.
Jakayla Epps led the way for the Lady Tigers, finishing with 15 points. Donisha Flowers added 13. Shaterrea Bellamy just missed reaching double figures with 9 points.
Amari Brown and Eniya McGee each had 12 points for Christian County. McGee scored all 12 of her points in the 2nd half. Destinee Catlett-Watkins also hit double figures with 11 points.
Foul problems and turnovers plague both team throughout the night. Hopkinsville finished with 28 turnovers, while Christian County had 22. The two teams were whistled for 52 fouls.
Neither team took advantage of the foul situation, as Hopkinsville was 17 of 43 at the line, and Christian County finished 14 of 32.
Hopkinsville, in winning their first district title since 2017, improves to 15-15 on the season. Christian County falls to 12-17. The two teams have met in the last five 8th District championship games.
Both Hopkinsville and Christian County will advance to the Girls’ 2nd Region Tournament, which begins Monday at Christian County High School.
SCORE BY QUARTER
HHS (15-15) 13 13 10 14 – 50
CCHS (12-17) 5 11 15 17 – 48
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
HHS: Epps 15, Flowers 13, Bellamy 9, Wilson 1, Radford 4, Samuel 4, Dansbury 2, Hinton 2
CCHS: Brown 12, McGee 12, Catlett-Watkins 11, Killebrew 4, Day 1, Forte 1, Harris 2, Bell 5
