Alex Matthews hit 1-of-2 free throws with no time on the clock to lift John Hardin to a 45-44 win over Hopkinsville in the championship game of the Owensboro Invitational Tournament Saturday.
Matthews was fouled on a put back attempt with the clock showing 0:00. He hit the first and missed the second to secure John Hardin’s ninth win in as many games.
James Nicholas led Hopkinsville with 16 points, and Don Victor scored 10 for the Tigers, who fell to 8-3.
The Tigers played from behind most of the game, trailing 26-10 after one quarter and 30-25 at halftime.
In the afternoon game on Saturday, the Tigers faced an Owensboro Catholic team coming off its first loss of the season on Friday to Owensboro. Hoptown led from the outset, using 6 points from Jacarius Burks and Jamarion Sharp to take a 17-9 lead after the first quarter.
A night after only scoring 5 points, Hoptown’s James Nicholas was back to his scoring ways with 8 of his team-high 17 in the second quarter and the Tigers led by 11 at the halftime break.
Neither team burned up the nets in the third, combining for only 20 points. John Parker put up 6 of his 11 for the Aces, but the Tigers maintained a 9-point cushion.
In the fourth, Nicholas added 6 more points and Reece Jesse added 4 to help the Tigers stretch the final margin to 15. Drew Hartz had 4 of his 10 for O Cath, but didn’t get enough help to threaten Hoptown.
Burks finished with 12 to join Nicholas in double figures, along with Jesse and Don Victor with 10 each.
Hopkinsville will head to Jefferson City, Missouri after Christmas to play in the Machens Great 8 Classic, which begins Thursday.