Missed opportunities and the inability to secure the basketball cost Trigg County the chance to advance in the Class 2A Sectionals Tuesday as the Wildcats lost to Webster County 54-51 in triple overtime.
In both the overtime and double overtime, Trigg County made a shot to extend the game in the final 20 seconds. However, down three in triple overtime and with time running out, Trigg opted to feed the ball into the paint instead of shooting a 3-pointer when time ran out.
Costly turnovers kept the Wildcats from playing with the lead in the extra periods. Webster County scored 21 points off 19 Trigg turnovers.
The Trojans were equally strong on the glass, outrebounding Trigg County 42 to 35 with 27 of them offensive rebounds. As a result of their glass tenacity, Webster County attempted 26 more shots from the field than Trigg.
The Wildcats played with the lead for most of regulation, leading 19 to 14 at halftime and 29-24 after three quarters. Down by nine in the second half, Webster County got hot from the outside as Noah Duncan hit a pair of three-pointers to give a 33-32 lead with 4:24 left.
With the game tied with 1:50 left, Webster County milked the clock until 13 seconds were left and called a timeout. The Trojans got a good look at winning the game in regulation but Duncan’s corner 3-pointer rimmed out.
Webster led for most of the first overtime, but Jhaden Vaughn buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 28 seconds left to send the game to the second overtime.
Webster led 47-43 with 55 seconds left in the second overtime but Khyran Vaughn converted a three-point play to get Trigg to within one. After Bradin Nelson hit one of two free throws, Khyran Vaughn hit a bucket with 10 seconds left to tie the game at 48 and send Trigg County to its first triple-overtime game in 15 years.
Webster again played with the lead and went up 52-48 with a minute left. With 19 seconds left and down 54-51, Trigg County called a timeout to set up a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Webster County extended its defense, forcing Trigg to throw the ball into the paint and failing to get off a shot in the final seconds.
Trigg County assistant Mason Burgett coached the team in the absence of his father Chad, who missed the game due to sickness.
Khyran Vaughn scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Wildcats. Jhaden Vaughn added 12 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocked shots.
Trigg County shot 42-percent from the field and hit 10 of 16 free throws.
Nelson led Webster County with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Deshawn Murphy scored 12 points and hauled down seven boards.
Webster County shot 28-percent from the field and hit just 4-of-27 behind the arc. The Trojans were playing without second-leading scorer Aaron Harmon due to injury.
Trigg County will host Dayspring Academy of Tennessee Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Gym.
Trigg County 8 11 10 8 6 5 3– 51
Webster County 7 7 10 13 6 5 6– 54
Trigg County [7-6] – K. Vaughn 21, J. Vaughn 12, Adams 7, Washer 5, Reynolds 3, Parham 3
Webster County [6-7] – Nelson 16, Murphy 12, Austin 11, Duncan 6, Starks Scott 5, Michalek 3, Baker 1
