The Hopkinsville Tigers are continuing to look like the team everyone thought they might be at the beginning of the season, and that should be of concern to the rest of the 2nd Region. Coming off a win over Owensboro on Tuesday night, the Tigers went on the road Thursday night and ended McCracken County’s 12 game winning streak, beating the Mustangs 54-51.
The Mustangs opened the game like they were going to roll to their 13th straight win, scoring the first eight points of the game. Behind the outside shooting of Jalen Johnson, Hopkinsville began the fight to cut into the lead, and the Tigers trimmed the deficit to 19-14 after the first quarter.
Then, the Tigers unleashed a suffocating defensive effort on McCracken County in the second quarter. With Alijah Watts heating up from the behind the arc, the Tigers clamping down on the Mustangs offense, Hopkinsville outscored McCracken 14-4 in the quarter, taking a 28-23 lead at the half.
Hopkinsville scored the first four points of the second half to extend the lead to 32-23. The Mustangs battled back and cut the lead to five points, before the Tigers edged the lead out to 8 points at 42-34 at the end of the third.
The Tigers pushed the lead to double digits on a three by James Nicholas to open the final quarter. But the Mustangs were far from finished. McCracken County would get as close as two points with 14.6 seconds left, and had the ball trailing by 3 in the final seconds, but a 3 point attempt by the Mustang’s Jackson Sivills was off the mark, and the Tigers had the win.
Hopkinsville was led by Jalen Johnson with 14 points. Shorty Cager had 13 points and 7 assists. James Nicholas scored 12, and Alijah Watts added 11.
Hopkinsville wraps up the season with back to back wins and improves their record to 13-13.