It may well have been the defensive performance of the season for the Christian County Colonels. And it came after they got back home late Friday night on a long bus ride after a tough loss to Madison Central. It was one of those statement games you like to have with the postseason now just over a week away.
The Colonels held the McCracken County Mustangs scoreless for more than a quarter’s worth of time as they took down the 1st Region favorite 63-52 in the final game of the Akridge Ace Jam at Lyon County High School.
The game did not start off that way, however for the Colonels. Christian County did not appear to be locked in defensively early in the game as McCracken County ran out to a 21-11 lead late in the first quarter. That deficit and the defensive effort, or lack thereof, from the Colonels, prompted Coach Toby Miles to burn his second timeout in the quarter.
To say the coach was unhappy would have been an understatement and whatever he said in the huddle to his team, he should bottle it up and bring it back out whenever he needs it. Because after that timeout, the game belonged to Christian County.
The Colonels finished the first quarter with six straight to cut the lead to 21-17 and they were not done yet. Christian County scored the first ten points of the second quarter to complete a 16-0 run and take a 27-21 lead. Not only was the run impressive, but the Colonel defense was scary good in the second quarter, as Christian County held McCracken County scoreless for the first six minutes of the quarter. The half ended with Christian County up 29-26.
Things could gave gone downhill for the Colonels as the second half got underway as Derrell Bateman picked up three fouls in the first 3 ½ minutes of the second half. But Christian County did not let up with their leading scorer on the bench. In fact, Jordan Miles, George Sanders, Breland Morrison, and JaSean Riley filled the gaps nicely and the Christian County lead had grown to 44-34 when the quarter ended.
After that, McCracken County got no closer than 7 points. Christian County’s lead got to as many as 16 after back-to-back thunderous dunks from Derrell Bateman from alley-oop passes.
Bateman led the Colonels with 19 points. Jordan Miles and Breland Morrison added 10 points each.
Ian Hart was the only Mustang to reach double digits with 16 points. Jack McCune added 9.
Christian County improves to 15-11 with the win. The Colonels hit the road Monday to take on Dunbar.
MCHS – 21 05 08 18 — 52
CCHS – 17 12 15 19 — 63
McCracken County – Hart 16, McCune 9, Purvis 8, Miller 5, Venable 4, Parish 4, Klope 4
Christian County – Bateman 19, Morrison 10, Miles 10, Riley 8, Sanders 7, Northington 4, Vaughn 2, Rowe 1
