After Wednesday’s frenetic up-and-down the-court pace against the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons, Hopkinsville’s battle with Mayfield Thursday at the First United Bank Holiday Classic in Madisonville was most certainly a change of pace. The Tigers got a big game from DeReion Dudley and some key plays in overtime from Antonio Williams as they ended their three-game skid with a 59-52 overtime win over the Mayfield Cardinals.
It was the second day in a row the Tigers had gone into overtime. Hopkinsville lost to Madisonville-North Hopkins in an extra period on Wednesday.
Neither the Cardinals or the Tigers had much success finding the basket in the early going. In fact, each team missed two free throws early and the ice in the game was not broken until the Cardinals got a shot to go down with 5:35 to go in the opening quarter. The game was tied at 2 and at 4, before Mayfield was able to inch out to a 12-9 lead at the end of one.
After a three from Mayfield’s Owen Webb to open the second quarter, Hopkinsville ripped off a 10-0 run to take a 19-15 lead late in the first half. DeReion Dudley and Antonio Williams were big factors for the Tigers during the run.
However, Mayfield had a response. The Cardinals used an 8-2 run of their own to take a 23-21 halftime lead.
The game was tied twice early in the second half, at 23-23 and 25-25. Then, the Tigers, with DeReion Dudley running in high gear, Hopkinsville used a 14-5 spurt to run out to a 39-30 lead. The Cardinals were able to cut into the lead just a bit before the end of the quarter, as Hopkinsville took a 41-36 lead into the fourth.
Mayfield continued to play their zone defense as the final quarter got underway and Coach Anthony Babb made the decision to have his Tigers spread the court to force the Cardinals to come out on the floor. Turns out, that was a good decision for Mayfield.
With Hopkinsville leading 47-41, the Cardinals got a basket from Collin Gibson and a three from Owen Webb to make it 47-46. After DeReion Dudley made one of two free throws to give the Tigers a two-point lead. Gibson took the ball down into the paint against the Tiger defense and tied the game at 48-48 with 37.4 seconds left.
Hopkinsville then held the ball for what they hoped would be the final shot of the game, however, that shot never happened as the Tigers turned the ball over. Mayfield attempted a long down-the-court pass with 2.3 seconds to go and turned the ball over, giving the Tigers one last chance with 1.9 seconds to go. Deavery Ramey’s 3/4-court shot was off the mark and the two teams headed to overtime.
The Tigers began the overtime with a dunk from Antonio Williams, however, Williams was assessed a technical for hanging on the rim. Mayfield did not convert the opportunities and the Tigers promptly went on a 7-2 run to gain control of the game. After a quiet regulation, Antonio Williams scored six points in the extra period for Hopkinsville.
DeReion Dudley paced the Tigers with 24 points. Another solid night for Antonio Williams as he finished with 20.
Owen Webb scored 21 for the Cardinals, including five 3-pointers. Collin Gibson was also in double figures with 16.
Hopkinsville (5-4) plays their final game in the First United Bank Holiday Classic Friday afternoon at 4:00 as they take on Owensboro Catholic.
HHS — 9 12 20 7 11 – 59
MHS — 12 11 13 12 4 – 52
Hopkinsville – Dudley 24, Williams 20, Hart 7, Ramey 6, Bradley 2
Mayfield – Webb 21, Gibson 16, Morris 6, Pate 2, Morton 2
