NeVaeh Helps Save the ‘Day’ for Christian County in Win Over UHA

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It did not come easy, but make it ten straight appearances for the Christian County Lady Colonels in the 8th District championship game, and the 7th straight time they will face the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers for the title. The Lady Colonels got some big, big plays from NeVaeh Day and Anaysia Bagwell to advance to the Thursday night championship game as they got by University Heights Academy Thursday night 54-41 at Tiger Gym.

A big 4th quarter from Day and Bagwell helped save the Lady Colonels from being an upset victim in the opening round of postseason play.

Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. Off a free throw from Alecia Davis, a two from Amaryia Bass, and then a three from Breanna Daniel, the Lady Blazers took an early 6-0 lead.

Christian County finally got on the board with 3:55 to go in the first quarter when Sarah Harris powered one in from down close to cut the lead to 6-2. That basket would kick off a 16-1 run for the Lady Colonels. The spark for the run would be the 1-2-1-1 press called for by Coach Kiki Radford. The Lady Blazers had a stretch of several minutes where they struggled to get the ball into frontcourt against the pressure and the Lady Colonels were able to convert UHA miscues into runouts.

Christian County would take a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Three quick baskets off Lady Blazers mistakes would extend that lead to 16-7 in the opening moments of the second quarter.

But just about the time it looked like the Lady Colonels were about to run out to a big lead, the Lady Blazers fought back. Coach Derrick Hickman put his team in a very tightly packed 1-3-1 defense and essentially dared Christian County to shoot from the outside. And the dare worked.

The Lady Colonels began to settle for the outside shot and lost the momentum they had built up during the big run. After trailing by as many as nine in the second quarter, UHA would close to within five late, before going into the locker room down 22-15 at the half.

The zone continued to have its desired effect into the second half. As Christian County struggled to find the basket, the Lady Blazers began to chip away at the lead. Behind the play of Alecia Davis, Amaryia Bass, and LeeLee Love, UHA would draw even at 25-25. But, in what would turn out to be a key element of the game, the Lady Blazers could never get to the lead. There were several opportunities in front of the Lady Blazers in the third that just did not pan out, and that would turn out to be crucial.

With Christian County up 27-26 in the waning moments of the third quarter, Alecia Davis came up with a steal and drove to the basket, but the shot would not go down. Coach Derrick Hickman was beside himself at the lack of a call and expressed that viewpoint between quarters to no avail.

When the 4th quarter began, Christian County took full advantage of the momentum they received from UHA’s missed opportunity. NeVaeh Day came up with a steal and was fouled on a made layup. Day would miss the free throw, but the Lady Colonels got the rebound.

That series got Day going and moments later Bagwell buried a three that put the Lady Colonels up by eight at 37-29 and effectively put the game in the win column for Christian County.

Anaysia Bagwell led Christian County with 15 points, including nine in the second half on three made 3-pointers. NeVaeh Day added 14 points, ten of them coming in the second half of play. Destinee Catlett-Watkins also reached double figures with ten.

Amaryia Bass was the top scorer for UHA with 14 points. LeeLee Love had one of her best games of the year with 11, all coming in the second half of play. Alecia Davis added 8 points for the Lady Blazers.

Christian County improves to 12-17 with the win and will move on to take on Hopkinsville at 6pm Thursday in the 8th District championship game.

The Lady Blazers see their season come to an end at 4-21.

 

UHA   —   7      8     11     15  –  41
CCHS  — 10    12     5      27  –  54

University Heights (4-21) – Bass 14, Love 11, Davis 8, Daniel 7, Tullis 1

Christian County (12-17) – Bagwell 15, Day 14, Catlett-Watkins 10, Steele 4, Killebrew 3, Bridges 2, Harris 2, McGregor 2, Daniel 2

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