After a lopsided loss to McCracken County earlier in the day and a 16-point setback just over a week ago to their second opponent at Monday’s McCracken County Hardwood Tournament, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers got some revenge against Union County with a come from behind 66-63 victory over the Lady Braves.
The Lady Tigers fell behind big against McCracken County and it looked like they might find themselves in the same sort of hole after Union County’s Madison Morris scored eight points over the first four minutes of the game to give the Lady Braves a 12-3 advantage.
But this time the Lady Tigers had the answer, with Kahtahvia Fleming knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to pull them within a bucket at 17-15 inside the final minute of the 1st quarter.
JaChia Pendleton scored five points in the 2nd quarter and her 3-point play cut the Union County lead to a point with just over four minutes left in the half. The Lady Braves built the lead back to eight, but Shaterrea Bellamy hit a pair of free throws and Pendleton scored on a putback for a 32-28 score at the break.
Trailing by six, Hopkinsville went on an 8-0 run and finally pulled in front on four straight points by Donnisha Flowers. However, Flowers immediately picked up her fourth foul and was forced to the bench for the rest of the 3rd quarter.
Over the last 4:40 of the 3rd, the lead changed seven times and the game was tied on three occasions. LaTaijha Cherry put the Lady Tigers on top 49-47 with :21 left, but the Lady Braves scored the final four points to take a two-point edge to the 4th quarter.
Union County opened up a five-point lead and held a narrow edge throughout most of the final quarter. However, Bellamy’s two free throws with :55 to play gave the Lady Tigers a one-point advantage.
With Hopkinsville leading by four with :11.6 on the clock, Reese Hagan drilled a 3 to cut the lead to one. Flowers was fouled and went to the line for two, but missed both. Laniya Hill came up with the rebound on the second miss for the Lady Tigers and got the ball to Flowers for a jumper in the lane. Union County had a good look at a 3 at the buzzer, but it bounced out to give Hoptown the win.
After being held to only three points in the teams’ first meeting, Flowers finished with 18 to earn game MVP honors. She was joined in double figures for the Lady Tigers by Fleming with 16 and Bellamy with 10.
Hopkinsville 15 13 21 17 — 66
Union County 19 13 19 12 — 63
Hopkinsville (3-4) — Flowers 18, Fleming 16, Bellamy 10, Cherry 8, Wilson 7, Pendleton 5, McGee 2
Union County (5-5) — Morris 20, Mackey 17, R. Hagan 12, Goodloe 3, Beaven 2, Coker 2, M. Hagan 2, Hibbs 2, Steward 2, Theus 1
