Offensive struggles early, including turnovers against Hopkins Central’s fullcourt pressure were a bit too much to overcome for the Caldwell County Lady Tigers Tuesday night. The Lady Tigers were upended by the Lady Storm 47-44 in a 7th District match up at the CAB.
Hopkins Central opened the game with a full court press, and it took the Lady Tigers until their third possession of the game to get the ball into front court. The Lady Storm scored the first four points of the game to take a 4-0 lead. Caldwell County got their first point with 5:25 to go in the first quarter to make it 4-1. Jacey Jaggers tied it shortly thereafter with a three pointer. Hopkins Central went on a 9-3 run to close out the quarter and take a 13-7 lead.
Hopkins Central score the first four points of the second period to push the lead to double digits at 17-7. Behind the play of Jacey Jaggers, the Lady Tigers ripped off an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 2 at 17-15. Central’s pressure continued though to give Caldwell County problems as the Lady Storm closed out the half with a 10-3 spurt to go into the locker room up 27-18.
The second half started out like it would be no different, as for the third straight quarter, the Lady Storm scored the first four points, pushing the lead out to 31-18. Then, Peyton Young caught fire, not just not but really hot, from behind the arc. Young connected on four three pointers during the quarter, and by the end of the 3rd quarter the Lady Tigers were within four at 38-34.
Hopkins Central may have survived the Caldwell County second half effort in the opening moments of the 4th quarter, as the Lady Storm opened the final quarter on a 7-0 run to push the lead back out to double digits at 45-34. The Lady Tigers made one final run to cut the lead to 2 in the final minute at 45-43, but could never get to the front.
Peyton Young led the way for Caldwell County with 19 points, including six made 3-pointers. Jacey Jaggers added 15. Majah Hollowell added 8. For the game Caldwell County made only 4 2-point field goals. The Lady Tigers did make nine shots from behind the arc.
Hopkins Central was led by Keke Ikeard with 16 points, and Maddie Tow, who chipped in with 14 points.
The loss drops Caldwell County to 11-8 on the season, and 2-1 in the 7th District. Central improves to 11-10 overall and 4-1 in the district. The Lady Storm can lock up the top seed in the district if they beat Caldwell County when the two teams play February 5th in Mortons Gap.
