The Hopkins County Central Lady Storm scored the final six points over the last minute of the game to take an intense, hard-fought win over the Christian County Lady Colonels 73-67 Saturday afternoon in Mortons Gap. The game, which could have been remembered as one of the hardest-played, toughest games of the season in the 2nd Region will now be known for how it ended.
It was a game where illness knocked out a starter for each team. NeVaeh Day was out of the lineup for Christian County while Kenzleigh Harrison was out for Hopkins County Central.
The first quarter was a basketball battle between the two teams. Hopkins Central scored the first four points of the game only to see Christian County go on a 10-1 run to take a 10-5 lead. Both teams early on had ball security issues and had trouble getting shots to fall.
Christian County’s Lazarie Daniel found a hot streak late in the quarter and helped the Lady Colonels take a 12-11 lead after one. Daniel scored seven points over the final half of the opening quarter.
As the second quarter got started, enter Addie Menser to the stage. Menser, who had a big first half Friday night against Dawson Springs, knocked down two threes and scored 10 points in the second as the Lady Storm used a 14-2 run to seize a 32-18 lead.
Christian County scored a late basket to cut the lead to 32-20 at the half.
Coming out of the locker room, the intensity picked up and Anaysia Bagwell got hot for Christian County. A 7-2 spurt to start the half brought the Lady Colonels to within 34-27.
The Lady Storm battled back with big plays from Calajia Mason and Addie Menser and pushed the lead back out to double digits and it appeared momentum was back on the Hopkins County Central bench. It did not stay there for long.
With Bagwell staying hot, Lazarie Daniel got going and Christian County was back chipping away at the lead. Bagwell’s second three of the third quarter got the Lady Colonels to within five at 45-40.
After a big three from Macy Cotton and a basket in the lane from Tyah White, the third quarter ended with the Lady Storm up 55-47.
The third quarter was filled with big plays from multiple players on both sides as the offenses got their traction. The two teams combined to score 50 points in the quarter.
Central got big plays from Mason, White, Menser, and Cotton, while Christian County got big plays from Bagwell and Daniel. The intensity of the game had picked up to the point that the officials called the coaches to the center of the court between the final two quarters.
Things got even more interesting as the 4th quarter got started, and that truly was just the beginning of a chaotic ending. A bucket from Lazarie Daniel, a three from Daniel, a three from DEbony Anderson, and a basket from Anaysia Bagwell opened the final quarter with a 10-0 run for the Lady Colonels and put them back in the lead 57-55. Moments later, a three-pointer gave Christian County a 60-57 lead.
The Lady Storm scored a quick 5 to 1 spurt, capped off by a three-pointer from Addie Menser, to make it 62-60.
Christian County would lose Lazarie Daniel to fouls with 3:26 to go, becoming the first of two Lady Colonels to foul out. And, the intensity of the game began to spiral a bit from there.
With the game tied at 63-63, Carliah Hobson was called for a foul with 2:42 to go. A technical foul was also assessed on the play.
Calajia Mason made two free throws for the foul and Addie Menser made two for the technical to take it to 67-63. Mason was then fouled on the possession, giving the Lady Storm a chance at a six-point trip.
However, Mason missed both free throws, Anaysia Bagwell scored a floater in the lane and, after Mason missed two more free throws, Carliah Hobson scored down low to tie the game at 67-67.
Calajia Mason scored on a putback of her miss with 55 seconds to go giving Central a 69-67 lead. After a missed shot for the Lady Colonels, Braylee Marsh was fouled on the rebound and made both free throws to extend the lead to 71-67.
Inside the final 20 seconds, Christian County was rushing to get up a shot attempt but the Lady Storm came up with a steal and a runout basket for Tyah White that made it 73-67. Then things went downhill quickly.
Anaysia Bagwell pushed the ball up the court and went to attempt a three just ahead of the final horn from the left corner. Bagwell’s shot was offline and she hit the deck.
At that point, players, coaches, and fans spilled onto the court. It took several minutes to get the court cleared
Addie Menser continues to be a big part of the picture for Hopkins Central. Menser hit four threes and finished with 20 points to lead the Lady Storm. Tyah White added 17 points. Calajia Mason finished with 16 points. Bri Dulin also hit double figures with 10.
Anaysia Bagwell was nothing short of sensational in the second half for Christian County. She ended the game with 28 points, 23 of them coming in the second half, and made four 3-pointers. Lazarie Daniel had 22 points when she fouled out in the fourth quarter. DEbony Anderson added 5 to the Lady Colonels’ cause.
Hopkins County Central improves to 13-9 with the win and gets ready to go to McCracken County on Thursday,
For Christian County, the Lady Colonels drop to 14-9 and will host Crittenden County Tuesday night.
