The Hopkinsville Tigers are headed back to the semifinals of the boys’ 2nd Region tournament. The Tigers advanced by taking down Crittenden County 82-46 Tuesday night in a quarterfinal round matchup at Tiger Gym.
This one was essentially over before it really got rolling. Hopkinsville scored the first 9 points of the game and kept rolling from there. With their defensive pressure leading the way, the Tigers extended the lead to 23-5 late in the quarter. Whether it was the full-court press, or the half-court trap, the Tigers cranked up the heat on the Rockets and allowed them few good looks. The lead would be at 31-9 at the end of the opening quarter.
K.C. Cabiness and Antonio Williams presented interior problems for the Crittenden County defense as the pair was able to do pretty much what they wanted in the early going of the game.
For the second quarter, it was more of the same. Hopkinsville opened the quarter on an 8-2 spurt that pushed the lead out to 39-11. Paced by the shooting of Preston Morgeson, Crittenden closed to within 43-23 midway through the second.
Then, Hoptown dropped the hammer for good. K.C. Cabiness and Daisjaun Mercer ignited a 12-0 run to close the half that blew the lead out to 55-23 going into the break.
Hopkinsville would extend the lead to 70-35 late in the third, bringing the running clock into play. The third ended with Hopkinsville leading 75-41.
With the clock running, the final quarter played out fairly quickly. Hopkinsville started off the final eight minutes with a quick 5-0 burst to move the lead out to 80-41. From there the Tigers would ride it out to the final margin.
K.C. Cabiness led a trio of Tigers in double figures with 16 points, all in the opening half. Bubba Leavell added 14. Isaiah Manning finished in double figures with 11.
Crittenden County was led by Preston Morgeson with 19 points. Travis Champion also hit double figures for the Rockets with 13 points.
With the win, which is their 6th straight, the Tigers improve to 22-6 on the year and move into Thursday night’s second semifinal game at Tiger Gym. They will take on Hopkins County Central, who pulled off the stunner of Tuesday night, knocking off Henderson County on the road 63-52.
Crittenden County sees its season end at 14-17.
CCHS — 9 14 18 5 – 46
HHS — 31 22 22 7 – 82
Crittenden County (14-17) – Morgeson 19, Champion 13, Adamson 4,Cooksey 3, Davidson 2, Beverly 2, Crider 2, Yates 1
Hopkinsville (22-6) – Cabiness 16, Leavell 14, Manning 11, Smith 9, Mercer 8, Williams 7, White 7, Johnson 6, Northington 2, Dowlen 2
