NaDarien Rowe exploded for 30 points and the Christian County Colonels overcame a 4th-quarter deficit on Thursday to knock off Hopkinsville 73-69 in both teams’ 8th-District opener.
The Colonels won for the sixth time in the last seven in the series with their crosstown rivals to improve to 3-11. Hopkinsville slipped to 4-10 and will look to get back to winning ways when Logan County visits on Saturday.
On Hall of Fame Night at Hopkinsville, the Tigers came out on fire and led 27-18 after the opening quarter. In his first appearance in the rivalry with the Colonels, freshman Jonavan Leavell hit the ground running with a pair of three-pointers and 14 points in the first frame, and James Bradley added five for the Tigers.
But Hopkinsville went cold in the second quarter and managed only eight points to surrender the advantage at halftime. Rowe scored 12 points in the second frame to post 22 at the half, and Rahsean Stevenson scored eight to give Christian County a two-point edge at the break.
Hoptown countered with a combined 18 third-quarter points from Bradley and Leavell, overcoming 12 from Rowe and Stevenson to put the Tigers back in front 55-52 with a quarter to play.
But Christian County wouldn’t be denied, outscoring Hopkinsville 21-14 to close the game and pull out the win. Zion Acree put up nine of his 13 points and Stevenson added six to finish with 18 and complete the comeback.
Leavell totaled 28 points to pace the Tigers, and Bradley also reached double figures with 19.
Weather permitting, the Colonels will look to make it three wins in a row when they travel to Henderson County to face Triad, IL on Saturday.
Christian County 18 19 15 21 — 73
Hopkinsville 27 8 20 14 — 69
Christian County (3-11) — Rowe 30, Stevenson 18, Acree 13, Wharton 6, Bigbee 3, Bridges 3, Jesse 1
Hopkinsville (4-10) — Leavell 28, Bradley 19, Giltner 8, Bass 6, Ramey 4, Moses 2
