If it turns out to be the last-ever meeting between Christian County and Hopkinsville in an 8th District championship game it was a good one to go out on. After free throw line struggles opened the door for Hopkinsville to rally in the final minute of regulation, Christian County made 9 of 10 at the line in overtime as they claimed the 8th District title with a 64-56 win over the Tigers in Lyle Dunbar Gym.
With only one more season before the merger of the two schools, there is the possibility that this could be the final get-together in a district championship contest for the Tigers and the Colonels.
Christian County looked to have the game in the win column in the final minute of regulation. With under a minute to go, the Colonels were up 53-47. KeiMarion Smith and Bubba Leavell drained huge three-pointers, sandwiched around a missed free throw, in the final 45 seconds of regulation, the last of which came with just 13.5 seconds to go. Smith, who had been held to just two points in the first half, made four three-pointers in the second half and overtime.
The Colonels would get a shot just ahead of the horn but it was offline and the game headed into overtime.
Derrell Bateman scored early in the extra period to give the Colonels a 55-53 lead. Christian County then scored six straight points at the free throw line to extend the lead to 61-53 and take control of the game. A KeiMarion Smith three cut the lead to 61-56, but that would be the only points of the overtime for the Tigers as the Colonels went on to take the eight-point win.
Both teams started the night out a little bit tight. While there was plenty of up-and-down the court action, neither team could find their shooting groove early on. Hopkinsville led by as many as three in the first eight minutes of the game before the Colonels battled back to tie the game at 9-9 at the end of the quarter.
An 8-1 run to open the second quarter put Christian County up 17-10. The Colonels’ inside tandem of Derrell Bateman and George Sanders gave Coach Toby Miles some big minutes in the quarter.
But the Tigers came battling right back. Led by the trio of Antonio Williams, Isaiah Manning, and Bubba Leavell, Hopkinsville scored seven straight to even things up at 17-17. The Colonels pushed the lead back out to five at 24-19, but the Tigers would then score the final four points of the half to cut the lead to one at the break 24-23.
The second half of the contest was much like the second quarter. The Colonels would move out to a lead, only to see Hopkinsville come battling back. Christian County could never quite get the Tigers put away until the final moments of overtime.
After leading by as many as seven in the third quarter, Christian County took a 39-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Colonels had a six-point lead early in the fourth, but again Hopkinsville fought back, and this time tied the game at 42-42. In a key stretch of the game, the Tigers had opportunities to take the lead at that point, but could not get a basket to put the Colonels’ backs against the wall.
As he did throughout the night, Derrell Bateman, widely considered among the top players in the region, showed why at clutch time, making big play after big play when his team needed it the most.
Bateman led the Colonels with 22 points. Jordan Miles added 14 points. Breland Morrison also reached double-figures with 11.
Bubba Leavell topped the Hopkinsville scoring column with 17. KeiMarion Smith finished the night with 16 points. Antonio Williams had 8 points before fouling out late in overtime.
Christian County improves to 18-12 with the win. Hopkinsville falls to 13-16.
Both teams will advance to the boys’ 2nd Region tournament, which will be played at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
HHS – 09 14 11 19 03 — 56
CCHS – 09 15 15 14 11 — 64
Hopkinsville – Leavell 17, Smith 16, Williams 8, Manning 7, Gavin 4, Northington 4
Christian County – Bateman 22, Miles 14, Morrison 11, Northington 7, Sanders 6, Riley 2, Blanton 2
