Male used a strong performance from behind the arc to build a big lead and then had to hold off a late-game comeback to pick up their second win in two nights at the 2024 City of Hopkinsville Holiday Classic. The Bulldogs made 12 3-pointers and gave Coach Tim Haworth his first win in Tiger Gym since late in the 2018 season as Male got past Hopkinsville 83-76 Saturday night.
Male came out of the gate blazing from behind the 3-point line. The Bulldogs, led by Cole Edelen, knocked down six from behind the arc in the first eight minutes of the game. Edelen entered the weekend shooting just over 50 percent from three-point land and did nothing to harm his status as one of the state’s premier outside shooters during the game against the Tigers.
With the three-point attack, Male led 24-17 after the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs cooled off somewhat from behind the line in the second quarter, knocking down just two. Still, it was enough to push the lead to ten at the half at 40-30. The Tigers were able to stay within shouting distance thanks to the play of Antonio Williams, Deavery Ramey, and DeReion Dudley, who combined to score 27 of the Tigers’ 30 first-half points.
Male turned up the heat in the third quarter and extended the lead out to as many as 19. With the Bulldogs up 60-41, Hopkinsville made a late run in the third to close the gap. The trio of Williams, Ramey, and Dudley got second-half help from Keontae Radford, as the Tigers closed the third on an 8-2 run to trim the lead to 62-49.
Hopkinsville carried the momentum from that run over into the final quarter and kept the game between 7 and 12 points much of the 4th quarter. The Tigers, led by strong inside play from Radford and Williams, made one last push and got the lead down to 76-72 with less than two minutes to go in the game.
But Male would have the answer when it needed it the most. The Bulldogs got two old-fashioned three-point plays from Terrence Hall in the final 90 seconds to turn back the Tiger comeback and hold on for the seven-point win.
Hopkinsville got big nights from Antonio Williams and DeReion Dudley. The Tigers’ inside-outside combination hit for 53 points in the game, Willliams with 29 and Dudley with 24. Keontae Radford added 12 and Deavery Ramey finished with 11 as all Tiger players that scored reached double figures.
Male was paced by Cole Edelen with 26, including six made 3-pointers. Terrence Hall contributed 17 points, including the two game-sealing plays in the final moments.
Hopkinsville drops to 6-10 with the loss. The Tigers are off until Friday when they travel to Evansville for the Warrior Showcase.
MHS — 24 16 22 21 – 83
HHS — 17 13 19 27 – 76
Male – Edelen 26, Hall 17, Gainey 15, Mitchell 8, Barnett 6, Gasaway 4, Jordan 4, Egan 3
Hopkinsville – Williams 29, Dudley 24, Radford 12, Ramey 11
