Caldwell County is still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed for the boys’ 7th District tournament after scratching past Hopkins County Central 78-66 Friday night in Mortons Gap.
The Tigers are 12-7 overall and 4-0 in the district, but still must face district favorite Madisonville-North Hopkins twice. Caldwell will travel to Madisonville on Monday before hosting the Maroons on Feb. 5.
With the second meeting in the 7th District serving as a potential tiebreaker, it will very likely come down to that meeting in Princeton to determine the top seed for the district tournament, which will be played at Caldwell County next month.
The Tigers had five players score in double figures to beat Hopkins Central for the second time in eight days. Caldwell rolled to an 84-53 victory in Princeton, but had to regroup Friday night after seeing a double-digit lead slip away in the third period.
Hopkins Central (7-9, 0-5) took a two-point lead in the third quarter before Caldwell went back in front 54-52 entering the final frame.
The Tigers never surrendered the lead again, but didn’t completely put the Storm away until the final minute of the contest.
Jaydarius Wilson salted the game away with a dunk with 43 seconds to play that gave Caldwell a 74-64 advantage.
Wilson and Daelyn Lander each had 16 points to lead the Tigers while Collin Whittington added 15 — including his 1,000 career point during the contest.
Kam Wilson had 12 points and Pax Aikins 11 for Caldwell.
Davonyae Butcher had 17 points to lead the Storm. Lake Sumner and Cohl Hoard each had 11 points while Fatty Peyton added 10.
The teams were tied 17-17 after one quarter, but Caldwell built a 12-point cushion in the second period.
But the Storm cut the gap to 37-32 at halftime, then twice held two-point leads in the third quarter.
Hopkins Central still holds a 32-31 lead in the all-time series.
Next up for the Storm is a trip to Graves County on Monday.
Caldwell County 17 20 17 24 — 78
Hopkins Central 17 15 20 14 — 66
Caldwell County (12-7, 4-0)—J. Wilson 16, Lander 16, Whittington 15, K. Wilson 12, Aikins 11, Parker 6, Rowland 2.
Hopkins County Central (7-9, 0-5)—Dav. Butcher 17, L. Sumner 11, Hoard 11, Peyton 10, Hopson 8, B. Sumner 3, McDaniels 2, Stone 2, Gunn 2.
