Despite starting the game on an 11-0 run and trailing for less than a second on Wednesday at the Marshall County Holiday Classic, the Christian County girls’ basketball team saw victory slip away when Union County’s Annie Beaven hit the second of two free throws after being fouled just ahead of the final horn for a 42-41 Bravettes’ win.
Even after leading scorer Anaysia Bagwell was forced to the bench with two fouls after less than three minutes played, the Lady Colonels raced out to an 11-0 lead after a steal and layup by Genesis McGee. Union County finally got on the scoreboard in the final seconds of the first quarter when Cadence Coker scored in the lane.
However, the Bravettes dominated the second frame, outscoring Christian County 13-4 and tying the game at 15-15 after back-to-back three-pointers by Paige Steward just before the halftime break.
Bagwell returned for Christian County and made up for lost time with nine points in the third. Her three-pointer with 3:14 left in the frame put the Lady Colonels up 28-23, but Union County was back within a point with a quarter to play after Coker’s layup with :17 left.
Bagwell scored Christian County’s first seven points in the fourth, and her steal and layup made it 39-32 with four and a half minutes to play, but it was downhill from there for the Lady Colonels. Jaci Curry scored on back-to-back possessions to start a 10-2 Bravette run to finish the game. Steward’s fourth three of the night tied the game at 41-41 with :51 on the clock, and a Christian County turnover gave Union County the ball.
The Bravettes’ first attempt at a winner rolled off, but Beaven came up with the rebound and was fouled on the putback just ahead of the final horn. Her first free-throw attempt bounced off, but the second went down for Union County’s first lead of the night.
The Lady Colonels dropped their second straight to slip to 3-5 and will face hosts Marshall County on Thursday morning.
Union County bounced back from a loss to Hopkins County Central in the 2A Sectional to improve to 5-2.
Christian County 11 4 17 9 — 41
Union County 2 13 16 11 — 42
Christian County (3-5) — Bagwell 18, Daniel 6, McGee 6, Anderson 5, Bradley 5, Hobson 2
Union County (5-2) — Steward 12, Coker 8, D. Curry 7, J. Curry 7, Gough 4, Beaven 2
