Ready to put last year’s difficult 3-10 season behind them, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers placed three players in double figures and used a 2nd-quarter run to knock off Livingston Central 62-43 on Tuesday in Smithland.
Both teams struggled to score early on, with Donisha Flowers posting four of the Lady Tigers’ seven 1st-quarter points for a one-point edge.
The Lady Tigers opened the 2nd quarter on a 15-4 run, capped by three straight baskets by JaChia Pendleton, for a 22-10 advantage with three minutes left in the half.
The Lady Cardinals closed to 24-16 after Hadley Hargrove knocked down a 3-pointer, but Faith Dansbury answered for Hoptown with a 3 inside the final minute to restore the double-digit advantage.
Victoria Joiner came out of the locker room hot for Livingston Central, putting up 11 points in the 3rd quarter. Neveah Jennings scored on a layup to cut the Lady Tiger lead to nine, but despite a jumper at the buzzer by Joiner, Hopkinsville took a 14-point cushion to the 4th quarter.
Shaterrea Bellamy scored six straight for the Lady Tigers to push the lead to 53-31 with five and a half minutes to play, and Livingston Central never got closer than 17 the rest of the way.
Bellamy led the Lady Tigers with 12, followed by Shiyah Forte with 11, and Pendleton with 10 points.
Joiner was the lone Lady Cardinal in double figures, leading all scorers with 13.
Hopkinsville hits the road on Thursday for a big early-season test at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
Livingston Central opens 5th District play with a visit from Crittenden County on Friday.
Hopkinsville 7 20 16 19 — 62
Livingston Central 6 10 13 14 — 43
Hopkinsville (1-0) — Bellamy 12, Forte 11, Pendleton 10, Flowers 9, Wilson 7, Dansbury 6, Manson 4, McGee 2, Green 1
Livingston Central (0-1) — Joiner 13, Hargrove 8, Downey 7, Ramage 7, Holman 3, Leahy 3, Jennings 2
