Mark this one down for the team from the 2nd Region. In a matchup of teams expected to be among the best in the 2nd Region and the 4th Region, Christian County used its patented defensive pressure and a big night from senior NeVaeh Day to get past Todd County Central 66-44 Thursday night in Lyle Dunbar Gym.
The final score is not a true indication of how hard the game was contested and how closely it was played throughout the night. Todd County Central led at the half and was down only 44-39 going into the final quarter. It was a tough, grind-it-out, defensive game that turns out to be a nice win for the Lady Colonels.
The Lady Colonels’ pressure defense presented some issues for the Lady Rebels at the outset. Even if the pressure did not directly result in a turnover, Todd County Central had trouble finding its offensive stride in the opening minutes of the game as Christian County ran out to a quick 7-0 lead behind the play of Anaysia Bagwell and NeVaeh Day.
Todd County Central finally broke the ice nearly 3 ½ minutes into the contest when Alexis Taylor converted a 3-point play to cut the lead to 7-3. The lead grew to as many as nine points on a couple of occasions, the last at 15-6. Sparked by JaMya Kay, the Lady Rebels ended the opening quarter with a flourish, scoring the final five points to cut the lead to 15-11 after one.
Anaysia Bagwell opened the second with a three to push the lead out to 18-11 and then Christian County nudged the lead out to 20-12 and it looked as if the Lady Colonels might be ready to take firm grasp on the momentum in the game.
At that point, JaMya Kay said ‘not so fast.’ Kay and Jordyn Shemwell bagged back-to-back threes and the lead quickly was down to two at 20-18. Todd County Central would pull even for the first time in the game at 20-20.
As they did at the end of the opening quarter, the Todd County Central Lady Rebels finished the second quarter with a mini-run. Trailing 28-24. The Lady Rebels got a three from Alexis Taylor and a layup from JaMya Kay to take a 29-28 lead into the break.
Both teams could have found themselves in a bit better of a situation if not for struggles at the free throw line in the opening half. Christian County was 4 of 13 at the line, while Todd County Central was 4 of 12.
The Christian County ‘trifecta’ began to exert itself in the third quarter. With Anaysia Bagwell knocking down a pair of threes and Lazarie Daniel and NeVaeh Day controlling things down inside the lane, Christian County went on a 12-6 spurt to open the second half and go back in front 40-35.
The Christian County defense very nearly shut out the Lady Rebels 1-2 combination of Alexis Taylor and JaMya Kay in the quarter. The Lady Colonels limited that pairing to just a couple of free throws from Taylor in the third as Christian County took a 44-39 lead into the final eight minutes of the game.
The Lady Colonels then delivered the knockout blow to open the fourth. The defensive pressure that Christian County had applied from the beginning appeared to wear down the Lady Rebels as the fourth quarter started. Christian County used a 9-1 run to start the quarter to take a 53-40 lead and that was effectively the game. The Lady Colonels would pull away down the stretch to take the 22 point win.
NeVaeh Day ended a monster night with 22 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 steals. Anaysia Bagwell added 18 points, including four made 3-pointers. Lazarie Daniel and Carliah Hobson finished with 11 points each.
JaMya Kay led the Lady Rebels with 15 points, 13 of them in the opening half. Alexis Taylor had 13. Daymea Garrett had 9, while Jordyn Shemwell chipped in 7 points.
The game ended up being decided by the second half defense for the Lady Colonels, which allowed Todd County Central just four made field goals over the final 16 minutes of the game.
Todd County Central (4-4) will be back in action Saturday at 2pm taking on Power Center Academy, from Memphis, at Calloway County in The Hardwood Classic.
Christian County (5-3) heads off to Bullitt East for a Friday night game against the host Lady Chargers in the annual Queen of the Commonwealth Tournament.
