After moving into the 2nd Region semifinals with a forfeit victory over Hopkins County Central, the Hopkinsville girls’ basketball team saw its season come to an end on Friday night with a 58-40 loss to Union County. The Bravettes topped the Lady Tigers by 6 three weeks ago, but took a 14 point lead at halftime in the second matchup and were never threatened in the second half.
Union County wins its eighth in nine tries, with the only loss coming to Henderson County in the 6th District title game. The Bravettes may get a second shot at the Lady Colonels, with Henderson a heavy favorite to get past Madisonville-North Hopkins in the other semifinal on Saturday.
Raelle Beaven scored 6 first-quarter points to help the Bravettes take an early advantage, but the Lady Tigers were within 3 after Shiyah Forte scored in the lane for the last points of the frame.
Hoptown’s Lakayla Samuel hit one of two free throws to cut the Union lead to 13-11, but the Bravettes closed the half on a 14-2 spurt to take control. Reese Hagan hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel the run and Union County led 27-13 at the halftime break.
The margin was 15 after Forte hit two free throws and followed with a putback basket for Hoptown with 2:36 left in the third, but Beaven scored 5-straight and the Bravettes closed on a 9-0 run to lead 45-21 with a quarter to play.
The Lady Tigers twice trimmed the lead to 16 over the final eight minutes, but couldn’t get any closer. Lashanti Wilson scored all 9 of her points in the fourth quarter for the Lady Tigers and Donisha Flowers added 4, but it was too little too late.
Hopkinsville 8 5 8 19 — 40
Union County 11 16 18 13 — 58
Hopkinsville (3-10) — Forte 9, Wilson 9, Bellamy 7, Flowers 7, Epps 5, Samuel 3
Union County (16-7) — Beaven 15, Roberson 8, Goodloe 7, Hagan 6, Hogan 5, Mackey 5, Morris 5, Jenkins 4, Gough 3
