The Caldwell County Tigers played well in their season opener Thursday night at CAB gym in Princeton, but fell just short of picking up a win against Muhlenberg County.
Madox Jernigan scored on a drive to the basket with 4 seconds left as the visiting Mustangs got out of town with a 51-49 victory over the Tigers.
Caldwell led for much of the night and took a 39-34 advantage to the fourth quarter.
The Tigers led 44-38 midway through the final frame before Muhlenberg came back to get the win.
The Mustangs are the two-time defending 3rd Region champions but graduated a large portion of last year’s squad.
Collin Whittington had 12 points and Carter Whittington 11 to pace a balanced Caldwell attack in the opener. Jaydarius Wilson scored nine points and Zavy Bumphus had seven.
Jernigan finished with 20 points to lead the Mustangs, who had opened their season on Tuesday with a 51-46 setback to Christian County. Kanyon Johnson added 14 points.
Caldwell (0-1) led by as much as seven points late in the first half before Jernigan connected on a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that cut the margin to 26-22 at halftime.
Muhlenberg (1-1) went up 32-28 in the third quarter, but the Tigers regrouped to go back in front by five entering the fourth period.
Jernigan gave the Mustangs their first lead of the final frame when he scored on a drive to the basket with 57 seconds to go. That put the visitors up 49-48.
Caldwell tied things when Wilson made one of two free throws with 32 seconds remaining.
Jernigan put Muhlenberg back up with his basket with 4 seconds to go.
Caldwell couldn’t get a last-second shot to go that would have tied the game.
The Tigers will play at home again Saturday night, hosting Trigg County as part of a girls and boys doubleheader.
Muhlenberg County 9 13 12 17 — 51
Caldwell County 14 12 13 10 — 49
Muhlenberg County (1-1)—Jernigan 20, Johnson 14, Ray 8, Brannon 7, Sommers 2.
Caldwell County (0-1)—Co. Whittington 12, Ca. Whittington 11, Wilson 9, Bumphus 7, Thompson 5, Englebright 5.
See the last two shots of the game in this YSE Video…
