4th Quarter Rally Carries Hoptown Lady Tigers to District Title

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After a year’s hiatus, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers are back on the throne as 8th District girls champions. Hoptown survived a physical, tough battle with crosstown rival Christian County 61-57 Thursday night in the girls’ 8th District championship game at Tiger Gym. The game was the third win for Hopkinsville over the defending district champion Lady Colonels this season.

It was almost a game of attrition in the final minutes. A total of six players would foul out of the contest, four for Christian County and two for Hopkinsville.

The first quarter was a toe-to-toe battle that saw four ties and three lead changes. Intensity was most definitely not lacking in the first eight minutes of the game, as the two teams did not back down from one another in the least. And that would only crank up as the first half went on. The quarter would end with the two teams knotted up at 12-12.

With Christian County missing some good looks and having ball security issues early in the second quarter, Hopkinsville would move out to a 23-16 lead about midway through. The Lady Tigers’ inside trio of Donisha Flowers, Shiyah Forte, and LaTaijha Cherry controlled the paint as Hoptown built the lead.

Just as it looked as if Hoptown would start pulling away before the break, ole man “mo” decided to swing the other way. Behind the play of Shaniah Bridges and Evanna McGregor, back came the Lady Colonels. Christian County would close out the half on a 9-3 run to slash the lead to 26-25 at the break.

As for the second quarter intensity, there were at least two occasions where players had to quickly be separated as tempers flared briefly after a physical play.

The second half was more of the same as neither team would back down from the other. The physical play would lead to foul problems for both teams coming down the stretch of the game.

The third quarter saw the game tied three more times at 28, 34, and 36. The quarter also saw tempers boil over one more time after another physical play. Hopkinsville would be whistled for the personal foul, while Christian County would be called for a technical on the play. The quarter ended with the Lady Colonels clinging to a 38-37 lead.

In the final quarter, the game would be tied at 42 and 45 in the early moments. Hopkinsville would score five straight to take the lead at 50-45 and it would be a lead they would not give up again for the rest of the night.

The play of the game may have come with :53 to go in the contest when JaChia Pendleton grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the putback to give Hopkinsville a 57-53 lead. After a Hopkinsville free throw on an ensuing possession, Mikayah Killebrew came back with a 3-point play for Christian County to make it 58-56. Donisha Flowers would knock down late free throws to help seal the Lady Tiger win.

Christian County will look back at missed opportunities in the game, as the Lady Colonels connected on only 12 of 34 at the free throw line. The Lady Colonels also had four players foul out of the game, Bridges, Catlett-Watkins, Day, and McGregor. Bellamy and Cherry would foul out for Hoptown.

Hopkinsville was led by Donisha Flowers with 19 points. Faith Dansbury added 10, including going 5 of 6 at the line in the second half of play. Kahtahvia Fleming scored nine points, all of them coming in the second half.

Anaysia Bagwell was the top scorer for Christian County with 15. Mikayah Killebrew finished with 14, ten coming in the second half. Shaniah Bridges also hit double figures with ten.

Both teams will now advance to next week’s 2nd Region tournament. Hopkinsville will host the runner-up from either the 5th, 6th, or 7th District, while Christian County will travel to the winner of one of those same districts.

The regional draw is set for Saturday morning.

CCHS  —  12     13     13     19  –  57
HHS   —   12     14     11     24  –  61

Christian County (12-18) – Bagwell 15, Killebrew 14, Bridges 10, McGregor 7, Catlett-Watkins 6, Steele 2, Northington 2, Day 1

Hopkinsville (15-12) – Flowers 19, Dansbury 10, Fleming 9, Forte 8, Bellamy 7, Pendleton 6, Northington 2

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