After a slow start and an early double-digit deficit on Monday night against Central in the City of Hopkinsville Toyota Holiday Classic, the Christian County Colonels battled back to take a slim lead into the 4th quarter. However, an 8/18 2nd half performance at the free throw line proved to be too much to overcome in a 61-53 setback.
The Colonels found themselves trailing 17-5 and in need of a timeout after Central’s Josh Bivens knocked down a 3-pointer. Trez Vaughn scored in the lane and KJ Vaughn drilled a 3-pointer to get Christian County within eight, but a Central bucket just ahead of the buzzer made the score 20-10 after the 1st quarter.
Central started the 2nd with a 3-pointer, but Christian County answered with a 15-2 run capped by a steal and layup for KJ Vaughn to tie the game at 25-25. Devin Henderson canned a step-back 3 to give Central back the lead inside the final minute of the half, before KJ Vaughn scored on a baseline floater for a 31-30 score at the break.
The 3rd quarter was tight, with the Colonels taking a three-point edge on three occasions. Jordan Miles scored on a putback with :50 left to give Christian County a 43-41 lead, but Central’s Jabdiel Colon tied the game again with a basket in the paint. Trez Vaughn was fouled with two seconds on the clock and hit one of two free throws to give the Colonels a slim edge with a quarter to play.
Bivens scored six points for Central over the final eight minutes and Henderson went 4/5 at the free throw line, while the Colonels struggled to the tune of 5/13 at the charity stripe. Down by as many as seven, Christian County got as close as four after one of two free throws by Jordan Miles with 2:42 to go. After Central missed the front end of a one and one, Derrell Bateman’ 3-pointer bounced out at the other end and the Colonels ran out of time.
Christian County returns to the court on Tuesday for a rematch with undefeated Bowling Green. The Colonels pushed the Purples in a 61-59 loss a week ago.
Central 20 11 12 18 — 61
Christian County 10 20 14 9 — 53
Central (4-4) — Bivens 18, Henderson 15, Aquino 9, Colon 6, Jones 5, Rowan 4, Young 3, Gomez 1
Christian County (2-4) — Miles 16, K. Vaughn 13, Bateman 10, T. Vaughn 7, Northington 3, Henderson 2, Riley 2, Morrison 1
