It is probably not the news that teams from around the 2nd Region wanted to hear. The Hopkinsville Tigers may be starting to come into the form that everyone thought they might be before the season began. With some key injuries and suspensions behind them, the Hopkinsville Tigers picked up a thrilling 84-81 overtime win against the Owensboro Red Devils Tuesday night at Tiger Gym.
The game was a fairly tight contest from the opening tip with neither team holding more than an eight point lead. After Owensboro scored the first four points of the game, the Tigers answered with an 8-0 run to take an early 8-4 lead. Behind big first quarters from James Nicholas and Jalen Johnson, the Tigers would lead throughout the quarter, holding a 23-17 lead when the quarter came to an end.
With GCorian Gardner heating up, the Red Devils opened the second quarter on a 11-2 run to take the lead at 28-25. Nicholas and Shorty Cager led Hopkinsville right back, with the Tigers taking a 38-35 lead late in the quarter. Owensboro finished the half on a 4-0 spurt to lead 39-38 at the break.
Hopkinsville began the third quarter on a 9-2 run to grab a 47-41 lead. But again, the Red Devils came right back, answering with an 8-2 spurt to tie the game at 49. Over the rest of the second half, the game was tied at 51, 65, and 67. Owensboro took a 71-67 lead late in regulation. But the Tigers got a free throw from Shorty Cager and a deep three with 9 seconds to go from Jalen Johnson to tie the game and sent it to overtime at 71-71.
In the extra period, Owensboro got a quick three point lead at 74-71. Hopkinsville roared back with a 7-1 run to take a 78-75 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. In the final seconds, Shorty Cager went 4 of 4 at the free throw line to help the Tigers seal the win.
Hopkinsville was led by James Nicholas with 30 points on the night. Jalen Johnson added 20, while Shorty Cager had 18. Gardner paced the Owensboro attack with 21 points, while Jeron Tinsley chipped in with 20.
The win improves Hopkinsville to 12-13, while Owensboro falls to 18-7.
