The matchup between the southern Colonels and the northern Colonels came down to the line Tuesday night, literally. Despite only scoring two field goals in the final eight minutes of the game, Henderson County was able to hold on for a 54-49 win over Christian County in a 2nd Region battle at Colonel Gym.
Henderson knocked down 8 of 9 free throws in the final quarter to secure the win in a game that had been close from the very beginning.
The Colonels from the north took an 11-9 lead after the opening quarter. Christian County’s Derrell Bateman keep them in the game early, knocking down two shots from behind the arc in the first.
With Bateman, Breland Morrison, and Jordan Miles leading the way, Christian County made that slim deficit disappear in the second quarter and the two teams headed off to the locker room at 25-25. The Colonels could have been in the lead if not for some free throw struggles in the quarter, as they knocked down just two of six from the charity stripe.
The two teams came back out for the second half, and the battle kept rolling. In a preview of what was coming down the stretch, Henderson County used the free throw line to get back to the lead, hitting 8 of 12 in the third to take a 42-39 lead into the final eight minutes of the game.
Derrell Bateman continued battling to keep Christian County close, scoring seven more in the quarter.
Henderson County would then fend off any Christian County comeback by going 8 of 9 at the line in the fourth quarter to hang on for the five point win. In the second half, the northern Colonels hit 16 of 21 from the free throw line. In comparison, Christian County was 4 of 7 in the second half.
Derrell Bateman led Christian County with 23 points. Breland Morrison added 12, while Jordan Miles also hit double figures with 10.
Henderson was paced by Gerard Thomas with 17 points. Cooper Davenport added 14 for the northern Colonels.
Christian County drops to 8-8 with the loss. The Colonels are set to be back in action this weekend at the Warrior Classic.
HCHS – 11 14 17 12 — 54
CCHS – 9 16 14 10 — 49
Henderson County – Thomas 17, Davenport 14, Sutterfield 8, Davis 6, Rideout 6, Belle 3,
Christian County – Bateman 23, Morrison 12, Miles 10, Sanders 4
