The Heritage Christian Academy Lady Warriors very nearly pulled it off. After digging themselves a big hole, the Lady Warriors charged back at the Cloverport Lady Aces but came up just short, falling at home 37-29.
The start of the game is something the Lady Warriors would like to quickly forget. With the Cloverport defense forcing 10 HCA turnovers in the opening quarter, the Lady Aces ran out to an 8-0 lead eight minutes into the game.
The lead grew to 10-0 early in the second before the Lady Warriors finally got on the board on a basket from Sophie Arvin. That was the first of five straight points as HCA trimmed the lead to 10-5.
Led by Campbell Moore, who hit two threes late in the second, Cloverport pulled back out to a 19-9 lead at the half.
After a Lady Warrior basket to open the third, Cloverport hit the Lady Warriors with another big run, this time a 12-0 spurt that blew the lead out to 31-11, and it looked like this one could be headed for a running clock finish.
The lead was 33-13 late in quarter when HCA got a jolt of energy. Ava DeJager and Kynlee Henderson hit back-to-back threes to close out the quarter and bring the Lady Warriors to within 33-19. Charity Hall had seven points in the quarter to help keep HCA in the game.
With DeJager leading the charge down inside and the Lady Warrior defense forcing missed shots and turnovers, HCA kept chipping away at the lead in the fourth. They closed to within six at 35-29, but they ran out of clock and gas as Cloverport held on for the eight point win.
Charity Hall finished the night with 11 points. Ava DeJager added 8, all in the second half. Kynlee Henderson scored 7 points, also all in the second half.
Cloverport got 15 points from Campbell Moore. Keeleigh Poole had 9 points, eight of them coming in the third quarter.
HCA drops to 3-11 for the season. The Lady Warriors go on the road Tuesday to take on Fort Campbell.
