Monday night’s matchup between the Christian County girls’ basketball team and visiting Warren Central appeared to be a mismatch between teams heading in distinctly different directions, but the Lady Colonels got all they could handle from a Lady Dragons squad smarting from a ten-game losing streak.
Christian County overcame an 8/28 night at the free-throw line to win its sixth straight and improve to 11-8. The Lady Colonels will head to Crittenden County on Tuesday looking for their third win in a row in the series with the Lady Rockets.
A four-and-a-half-minute scoring drought in the opening quarter left the Lady Colonels trailing 8-3 before Anaysia Bagwell connected on a pull-up jumper. The Lady Dragons added a pair of free throws before Amari Northington scored in the lane to pull Christian County to within three points at the end of one.
Warren Central opened the second quarter on a 7-1 run to open up a nine-point advantage with Aida Akhmedova leading the way with seven points in the frame. Bagwell answered with six, and her steal and layup with 1:13 left in the half pulled the Lady Colonels in front 22-21. However, Akhmedova drilled a three-pointer and Jaliyah Bailey scored on a layup for a 26-22 Lady Dragon lead at the break.
Bagwell continued to have the hot hand for Christian County, starting the third with a bucket in the lane and capping her 11-point quarter with a three-pointer for a 37-32 advantage. After the Lady Dragons made one of two free throws, Lazarie Daniel scored on a putback and the Lady Colonels appeared ready to pull away.
But Christian County went cold over the final eight minutes and found itself clinging to a one-point lead after Warren Central’s Bailey scored in the paint with 11 seconds left. The Lady Colonels came up empty on a trip to the free throw line, but with a chance to take the lead, the Lady Dragons rushed their attempt at a final shot and didn’t get a good look.
Bagwell led all scorers with 22 points and also pulled down seven rebounds. Daniel finished with nine points and eight boards, and NeVaeh Day scored seven and collected nine rebounds.
Akhmedova finished with 19 to lead the Lady Dragons, followed by Bailey with 18.
Warren Central 10 16 7 11 — 44
Christian County 7 15 14 6 — 45
Warren Central (3-14) — Akhmedova 19, Bailey 18, H. Bailey 5, Posey 2
Christian County (11-8) — Bagwell 22, Daniel 9, Day 7, McGee 3, Bradley 2, Northington 2
