You could sort of figure that the Caldwell County Lady Tigers might be a little tired going into Friday night’s contest against UHA. They had gone to overtime Thursday night in a close, physical, intense, and energy draining win over Paducah Tilghman. Turns out, that appeared to be the case as Friday night’s game got underway.
The Caldwell County Lady Tigers found their energy and extended their winning streak to four games Friday night. Rallying with a strong second half offensive effort, and a clamp down defense, to knock off UHA 55-30 at the CAB.
The night got off to a brutal start for Caldwell County. They struggled against the Lady Blazers defense, and when they got shots, they appeared to be leg weary, as most of them came up short, even attempts from right in the paint. Meanwhile, UHA took advantage of the Lady Tigers struggles. Behind seven first quarter points from Lily Hendricks, UHA took a 12-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
After a couple more baskets by Hendricks, UHA extended the lead to 20-9 late in the second quarter. However, Caldwell County scored the last six points of the half, to cut the lead to 20-15 at the break, and give a little preview of what was to come in the second half.
Following a basket by Anna Moore, UHA’s lead was still five points at 24-19 with 5:25 to go in the 3rd. Then came a play that appeared to set the rest of the night in motion. UHA was looking for a travel call on the Lady Tigers on a play down the lane, a call they did not get. Jacey Jaggers fed the ball out to Peyton Young in the corner for an open three that cut the lead to 24-22.
At that point, shots started falling for Caldwell County, and the wheels came off the wagon for the Lady Blazers. Caldwell rallied to tie the game at 24. Lily Hendricks hit a basket for UHA to put the Lady Blazers up 26-24. Normally a shot at this point in the game would not be noteworthy per se, except this would be the last field goal UHA made the rest of the game, a period of 12:20.
In the meantime, Jacey Jaggers started to heat thing up, and Young hit another three. By the end of the third, Caldwell County had moved out to a 39-27 lead.
UHA’s offensive woes got no better in the final quarter, as they could only come up with three made free throws, while the Caldwell County defense began to set them up for some easy looks at the basket and trips to the free throw line. The Lady Tigers opened with the first seven points of the final quarter to put them game away.
Jacey Jaggers had a big night for Caldwell County with 16 points. Peyton Young added 12 on four 3-pointers. Bella McConnell had nine points, all coming in the second half.
Lily Hendricks led the way for UHA with 17 points. Alex Juckett added five.
The win improves the Lady Tigers to 5-2 on the season. They will return to action Thursday on the road at Marshall County.
UHA drops to 4-3 on the season, and is back in action Saturday evening when they host Fort Campbell.