A 15-0 blitz to start the game paved the way for Hopkins County Central’s girls to advance at the 2nd Region tournament Monday night.
The Lady Storm turned back a Webster County challenge in the second half and held on for a 64-50 triumph in first round action at Union County High School.
Webster (10-21) went almost 7 minutes of the opening period before getting its first points of the night.
Hopkins Central (24-8) led 21-5 after one period and 33-19 at halftime.
But Webster got hot from long range in the third quarter. The Lady Trojans connected on five-point 3-pointers in the stanza and got as close as 42-36 late in the frame.
Webster could get no closer, though.
Hopkins Central led 45-36 through three quarters and went on to post the 14-point victory.
Emile Jones led the Lady Storm with 19 points. Calajia Mason and Mercy Sutton each added 12 points while Tyah White had 10.
Brooke Shepherd paced Webster with 18 points.
Hopkins Central will next face Crittenden County in Friday’s semifinal round.
It’s the Lady Storm’s first trip to the region semis since 2016.
Webster still leads the all-time series with Hopkins Central 34-18, including 4-3 in the 2nd Region tournament.
Hopkins Central is now 16-16 in 2nd Region tournament games. The Lady Storm is seeking its first regional championship since 1999.
Webster County 5 14 17 14 — 50
Hopkins Central 21 12 12 19 — 64
Webster County (10-21)—Shepherd 18, Kat. Cates 9, Yates 8, Thompson 6, Austin 5, Kar. Cates 3, Braden 1.
Hopkins County Central (24-8)—Jones 19, Mason 12, Sutton 12, White 10, Whitaker-Greer 8, Clark 3.
