In a matchup of teams wobbling a bit heading into the postseason, Trigg County made just enough free throws in the final three minutes and overtime to beat Caldwell County 50-46 Tuesday in Princeton.
The Trigg win marks just the second time they have won consecutive games in Princeton and the first since 1989-90.
The game featured eight ties and seven lead changes and neither team led by more than six points.
Trigg led by as many as six points in the first half but carried a tenuous 34-32 lead into the fourth quarter. Brylee Butts scored with 6:49 left to give Caldwell its first lead since the first two minutes of the game at 36-34.
Olivia Noffsinger answered with a 3-pointer but Morgan Aikens answered for Caldwell to keep the Lady Tigers ahead 38-37.
After a Parris Gray steal and layup gave Caldwell a 41-38 lead with 3:05 left, Audrey Alexander countered with Trigg’s last field goal with 2:56 left.
Noffsinger made one of two free throws with 48 seconds left to tie the game at 42. Caldwell missed the front end of the bonus with 29 seconds left, but Butts was able to rebound her missed shot.
A.J. Hollowell got a good look at the basket on the block with four seconds left but had her shot blocked by Marleigh Reynolds.
Gray gave Caldwell a 44-42 lead 36 seconds into the overtime period. She and Butts hit free throws to give put the Lady Tigers up 46-43 with 1:32 left. However, Reynolds and Noffsinger combined to make 7 of 8 free throws in the final 90 seconds while Caldwell had a turnover and two missed free throws in the same decisive stretch.
Reynolds finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds for the Lady Wildcats. Noffsinger added 22 points, four steals, and four assists. The duo combined to score Trigg’s first 25 points and had all but four of their points.
Butts came off the bench to score 12 points for Caldwell County, and Gray scored 10. Presley McKinney hit three of Caldwell’s six 3-pointers. The Lady Tigers hit 5 of 12 behind the arc in the first half to stay close but hit just 1 of 11 in the second half and overtime.
Trigg County outrebounded Caldwell 39-25 and had nine second-chance points off 15 offensive rebounds. The Lady Wildcats came into the game a 51-percent free throw shooting team but connected on 10 of 17 in the final three minutes and overtime. Caldwell was 3 of 9 at the line over the same stretch.
It was the first overtime game in the series since 1991 when Caldwell beat Trigg in the district semifinals at the CAB.
Caldwell County’s regular season is over with an 11-17 record. They will play Hopkins County Central in the 7th District Tournament next week.
Trigg County’s win secures a winning season at 15-12 with one regular season game left Friday at University Heights Academy.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Trigg County 15 10 9 8 8– 50
Caldwell County 9 15 8 10 4– 46
Trigg County [15-12] – Reynolds 24, Noffsinger 22, Alexander 4
Caldwell County [11-17] – Butts 12, Gray 10, McKinney 9, Hollowell 8, Smiley 5, Aikens 2
