Caldwell County is still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the 7th District.
The Tigers kept their hopes alive by turning back Hopkins County Central 65-56 in a heated district battle Monday night in Princeton.
The Storm didn’t go down without a fight, though.
The visitors were within 55-52 with 2 minutes to play, but a strange set of circumstances led to Caldwell pulling away down the stretch.
With Caldwell holding the ball with 1:01 to play, a play out front led to referees making opposing calls. One official called traveling, but the other had an intentional foul on Hopkins Central.
The foul stood, but in the ensuing discussion, a Storm player was called for a technical foul.
Carter Whittington made one of two free throws, then Jaydarius Wilson converted both technical free throws to put Caldwell up 58-52.
On the subsequent inbounds play, Hopkins Central was called for another intentional foul. Cade Rowland made one of two shots to make it 59-52 with 59 seconds to play.
Hopkins Central was forced to keep fouling, then another technical foul on the Storm led to more Caldwell free throws.
Whittington made two charity tosses at the 0:57 mark.
Wilson hit two more free throws with 51 seconds to play.
Demaurius Thompson made two freebies with 42 seconds left.
Caldwell wound up scoring 10 points at the free throw line in 19 seconds, turning a three-point edge into a 13-point advantage at 65-52.
The Tigers were 10 of 12 from the line during that time and finished the night 17 of 21 on free throws.
The game was tight most of the way.
Caldwell (10-7 overall, 3-1 district) took a 28-26 lead to halftime.
The Tigers then seemed to have a handle on things when a Wilson spin move in the lane made it 37-27 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
But Hopkins Central countered with 3-pointers from Lake Sumner and Drake Skeen to quickly get back in it, and the Storm was within 43-42 going to the final quarter.
Hopkins Central went in front 44-43 when Davonyae Butcher scored on a drive to the basket early in the fourth quarter.
However, Caldwell countered with eight straight points to regain the upper hand.
The Tigers led the rest of the way, but the Storm was within three points twice down the stretch.
Wilson totaled 23 points to lead Caldwell, including a 9-for-9 showing at the free throw line. Whittington finished with 16 and Rowland had 11.
Sumner had 15 to top Hopkins Central. Butcher added 14 and Sylas Gunn had 11.
The win gave Caldwell a regular-season sweep over Hopkins Central. The Storm still holds a 31-29 lead all-time.
Caldwell needs to beat Dawson Springs on Friday, then win at Madisonville-North Hopkins next Tuesday to earn the No. 1 seed for the district tournament.
Hopkins Central (5-13, 0-5) is locked into the No. 4 seed.
Monday’s game was the start of a busy week for Caldwell.
The Tigers will host Crittenden County on Tuesday before going to Trigg County as part of a girls and boys doubleheader on Thursday.
The Tigers will entertain Dawson on Friday before traveling to Mayfield on Saturday.
Hopkins Central plays again Thursday when it hosts McLean County.
Hopkins Central 10 16 16 14 — 56
Caldwell County 10 18 15 22 — 65
Hopkins County Central (5-13, 0-5)—Sumner 15, Butcher 14, Gunn 11, Skeen 8, Jones 6, Groves 2.
Caldwell County (10-7, 3-1)—J. Wilson 23, Ca. Whittington 16, Rowland 11, Parker 7, Thompson 6, Roach 2.
