The Hopkinsville Lady Tigers appear to be getting hot at just the right time. A switch to a smaller lineup to start the second half of the game Friday night sparked a 16-0 run that carried the Lady Tigers to a 74-62 win over the Crittenden County Lady Rockets on Senior Night.
The win was the fourth in a row for the Lady Tigers and the fifth in their last six games.
The early part of the contest was back and forth as both teams went up and down the floor. Each defense was able to force the other into miscues and then convert at the offensive end. The difference early for the Lady Tigers was they were able to convert some of their offensive rebounds into second-chance baskets.
The first quarter ended with Crittenden County holding a 17-15 lead.
With strong play from Shiyah Forte and Alicia Davis, the Lady Tigers started the second quarter with an 8-2 run that put them in front 8-2. The Lady Rockets, however, then responded with a 12-2 run of their own to take a 31-25 lead.
Crittenden County would then take a 33-28 lead into the break. The main difference in the opening half of play was the Lady Rockets 3-point shooting. Anna Boone, Elliot Evans, Jordyn Hodge, and Georgia Holeman all knocked down at least one three in the first half as Crittenden County made five as a team while giving up just one to Hopkinsville.
Coach Keith Leslie made a change in the lineup for the Lady Tigers to start the second half and it paid quick dividends for Hopkinsville. Leslie started the half with Shiyah Forte and four guards, Alicia Davis, Kahtahvia Fleming, Makaya Payton, and Lashanti Wilson.
After a quick three from Crittenden County’s Elliot Evans to extend the lead to 36-28, the smaller Hopkinsville lineup ripped off a 16-0 run to take a 44-36 lead. The Lady Tigers’ speed and defensive pressure caused ballhandling issues for the Lady Rockets and resulted in some easy scoring opportunities for the Lady Tigers.
The biggest beneficiary of the change for Hopkinsville was Alicia Davis, who started attacking the basket and ended up scoring 12 points in the third quarter. After the big run, Hopkinsville would carry a 49-44 lead into the final quarter.
Crittenden County cut the margin to three with a pair of free throws to start the final quarter but that would be as close as the Lady Rockets would get coming down the stretch as the Lady Tigers took the 12-point win.
Hopkinsville got a big night from the inside-outside combination of Shiyah Forte and Alicia Davis. Forte led Hopkinsville with 28 points and Davis added 21. Kahtahvia Fleming just missed double figures with nine.
Crittenden County was paced by Jordyn Hodge with 18 points, 13 of those coming in the second half of play. Anna Boone scored 16 points before leaving the game with an injury late in the fourth quarter. Elliot Evans also got into double figures with 13.
The win moves Hopkinsville to 9-9 on the regular season. The Lady Tigers are now set to be off until district tournament play.
CCHS — 17 16 11 18 – 62
HHS — 15 13 21 25 – 74
Crittenden County – Hodge 18, Boone 16, Evans 13, Holeman 7, Rushing 6, Stewart 2
Hopkinsville – Forte 28, Davis 21, Fleming 9, Wilson 7, Payton 5, Sharber 2, Murray 2
