Hopkins County Central’s upstart girls’ team stared down perennial 2nd Region power Henderson County for a half.
But in the end, Henderson did what Henderson does.
The Lady Colonels (25-7) pulled away in the second half to claim a 55-33 victory over the Lady Storm in the 2nd Region championship game Saturday night in Cadiz — the sixth-straight regional crown for Henderson.
However, Hopkins Central scored the first seven points of the night before Henderson regrouped with an 11-0 run.
Allyson Rideout finally got the Lady Colonels on the scoreboard for the first time with 1:59 left in the first quarter.
The game was tied 7-7 after one period before Henderson grabbed the lead for the first time early in the second quarter.
The Lady Storm drew even at 13-13 but could never regain the advantage.
Hopkins Central was within 19-17 late in the first half before Henderson got to the break up 25-20. Addy Gish gave the Lady Colonels some momentum going into halftime when she scored on a reverse layup off an offensive rebound with just 4 seconds left in the half.
Henderson then opened the second half with a 9-1 burst to push the margin to double figures. The Lady Colonels used a 19-6 advantage in the third quarter to take a 44-26 lead to the final frame.
It was just a matter of the final margin after that, with Henderson cruising to the 22-point win by outscoring Hopkins Central 30-13 in the second half.
Atylia Green led all scorers in the contest with 16 points for Henderson. Gish added 12 while Anna Kemp and Allyson Rideout each had nine points.
Hopkins Central got 12 points from Calajia Mason. Tyah White and Addie Menser each had nine.
The Lady Storm, which did not have a senior on the roster this season, ends the year at 20-15. Hopkins Central was in the championship game for the first time since 2000.
Henderson has now won 15 of its last 16 games.
Its one loss during that time came to Owensboro Catholic, which could be the Lady Colonels’ first-round opponent at the Sweet 16.
Owensboro Catholic will face Owensboro in the 3rd Region championship Sunday afternoon.
The winner of that game will meet Henderson at 12:30 p.m. Central time Thursday at Rupp Arena.
Hopkins Central 7 13 6 7 — 33
Henderson County 7 18 19 11— 55
Hopkins County Central (20-15)—Mason 12, White 9, Menser 9, Harrison 3.
Henderson County (25-7)—Green 16, Gish 12, Kemp 9, Rideout 9, Locher 5, Cansler 2, Burnett 2.
