After a frustrating first half in Saturday’s matchup with visiting Ohio County, Christian County’s Anaysia Bagwell took over after the break on the way to a game-high 24 points to lead the Lady Colonels to a narrow 51-48 victory over the Lady Eagles.
The victory is the third in four outings for the Lady Colonels, with the only loss coming by three points to the 10-3 Crittenden County Lady Rockets.
A three-point play by NeVaeh Day gave Christian County an early two-point lead, but the teams traded baskets over the final minute and a half of the first quarter for an 11-11 tie.
A 9-2 run to start the second gave the Lady Colonels a 20-13 advantage after a putback by Day, but Ohio County answered with a seven-point spurt to tie it up. Lazarie Daniel connected on a pair of free throws to put Christian County up by three with thirty seconds left in the half before Ohio County’s Celeste Jachimowicz knocked down a baseline jumper to cut the lead to 25-24 at the break.
Ohio County outscored the Lady Colonels 6-1 to start the second half, but four straight points for Bagwell tied the game at 30-30. Bagwell sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to cap her nine-point quarter, and the teams went to the fourth knotted at 37-37.
A short jumper by Camryn Kennedy gave the Lady Eagles their final lead at 38-40, but it was all Bagwell from there. She knocked down a three and was fouled on the Lady Colonels’ next possession before a steal and layup put them on top 49-42 and forced an Ohio County timeout with 1:55 left to play.
Bagwell was perfect in five attempts from the free-throw line in the fourth, and her final two made it 51-42 with just over a minute left. Ohio County responded with four straight points and had the ball under the basket with :15 left, but the inbounds pass hit the backboard to give it back to Christian County.
With a chance to seal the win, Evanna McGregor couldn’t connect on a pair of free throws to leave the door open for Ohio County. The Lady Eagles got two good looks at a three-pointer in the final seconds, but neither would go down and the Lady Colonels held on.
Bagwell was the only Lady Colonel in double figures. McGregor finished with 11 rebounds, Day had eight points and 13 rebounds, and Daniel added eight points and eight boards.
Christian County improved to 7-8 and will host Paducah Tilghman on Monday. Ohio County dropped its eighth in a row to slip to 3-9.
Ohio County 11 13 13 11 — 48
Christian County 11 14 12 14 — 51
Ohio County (3-9) — E. Gray 11, Kennedy 9, Wilson 8, Jachimowicz 7, S. Gray 5, Segars 2
Christian County (7-8) — Bagwell 24, Daniel 8, Day 8, McGregor 4, Bradley 3, Northington 3, Harris 1
