Photo - Kassity Boor
Big games from Abby Williams and Alexis Taylor help the Todd County Central Lady Rebels make a little history Monday evening in Elkton. Taylor and Williams scored 19 points each as the Lady Rebels picked up a 58-49 win over the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers, ending more than a decade of frustration for Todd County Central.
The win was the first for the Lady Rebels over the Lady Tigers since January 22, 2013, when Todd County Central took a 43-34 win over Hopkinsville. That Todd County Central team would finish 18-10 and reach the 4th Region semifinals.
Both teams struggled a bit with shooting and ball security in the opening minutes of the game. Todd County Central scored the final six points of the first quarter to take a 12-7 lead.
With Jordyn Shemwell and Alexis Taylor having a big first half, the Lady Rebels extended the lead to 19-13. Hopkinsville’s pressure defense got turned up a little hotter and the Lady Tigers got rolling. They would score nine straight points and took a 22-19 lead. Lashanti Wilson played an integral part during that stretch.
During the run, Todd Central coach Nick Suttle would burn timeouts on back-to-back plays trying to settle his team down against the Hopkinsville defense.
The Lady Rebels would get back in the flow and scored the final four points of the first half to go into the break trailing only by one at 26-25 and that little spurt appeared to give the Lady Rebels the momentum they were looking for.
Early in the third quarter, Hopkinsville extended the lead to 34-27 and the Lady Rebels looked to be teetering. But historical trends would change on this night and the years of losing to the Lady Tigers would be set aside.
With Alexis Taylor and Abby Williams leading the way, the Lady Rebels stormed back, scoring eight straight points to go up 35-34. After a quick swap of the lead, Todd County Central would end the quarter by taking a 41-38 lead into the final quarter.
Late in the game, Todd Central got some big plays from JaMaya Kay and key free throw shooting from Alexis Taylor and Abby Williams as they would pull out to take the nine point win.
In addition to the 19 points each from Taylor and Williams, Jordyn Shemwell and JaMaya Kay finished with 9 points each. Shemwell’s points all came in the first half while Kay’s points all came in the second.
Lashanti Wilson was at the top of the scoresheet for Hopkinsville with 12 points. Kahtahvia Fleming added 11 while Alicia Davis finished with 10. Todd Central did a big defensive job on Hopkinsville’s leading scorer Shiyah Forte, who ended up with three points on the night.
Todd County Central (6-2) will head off to Edmonson County for the Rafferty’s/Double Dogs Caveland Classic beginning Wednesday.
Hopkinsville (3-3) will host Graves County Friday evening.
HHS — 7 19 12 11 – 49
TCCHS — 12 13 16 17 – 58
Hopkinsville – Wilson 12, Fleming 11, Davis 10, Sharber 7, Forte 3, Murray 3, Mason 3
Todd County Central – Taylor 19, Williams 19, Kay 9, Shemwell 9, Collins 2
