Hopkins County Central battled back from 20 points in the second half to draw even with Union County.
Sam Almon’s 3-pointer with 30 seconds to play tied things at 61-61 in the 6th/7th District Challenge Saturday in Mortons Gap.
However, the Braves had a chance to set up a final play. Union pulled out the win when Kale Gaither found Kale Kanipe all alone under the basket, and Kanipe laid in the game-winner with 2 seconds to play.
Hopkins Central could not get off a final shot as Union (1-1) escaped with the two-point victory.
Gaither finished with a game-high 27 points for the Braves while Kanipe added 17. Eli Wikes added 14 points to the Union total.
Almon and Marcus Eaves each had 13 points to pace a balanced Storm attack. Adrian Stringer added 11 points and John Miller had nine.
Union led most of the way before Hopkins Central’s late rally made things interesting.
The Braves led 35-28 at halftime before extending the margin to as much as 51-31 in the third quarter.
Hopkins Central got to within 52-42 by the end of the quarter and continued to chip away until knotting the score inside the final minute.
Union County 16 19 17 13 — 63
Hopkins Cent. 13 15 14 19 — 61
Union County (1-1) — Gaither 27, Kanipe 17, Wilkes 14, King 4, Johnson 2, I. Manuel 1.
Hopkins Central (0-3) — Almon 13, Eaves 13, Stringer 11, Miller 9, Weldon 7, Winn 7, Morris 1.