Hopkinsville High School’s basketball team sent Tiger Gym out the same way it entered back in 1968 – a winner.
The Tigers used a 19-0 run in the second half to defeat Christian County 56-44 Friday night and claim their first District 8 Basketball Tournament championship since 2022. The win came in the last game to be played at Tiger Gym, as Hopkinsville and Christian County will consolidate and play their games at the new school in the 2026-27 season.
Hoptown Head Coach Anthony Babb said the victory was gratifying since it is the last season of Hopkinsville Tigers basketball.
Christian County (13-13) led early 5-2, but the Tigers went on a 7-0 run and took a 9-5 advantage midway through the first quarter. Curtis Dillard’s 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining in the period gave Hoptown its biggest lead at 21-14.
The Tigers (17-13) continued to hold the advantage and led by the play of Jayon Bass and Jonovan Leavell, took a 30-21 lead into halftime.
The Colonels responded with a run of their own as Stafford Winston’s 3-pointer started a 12-2 spurt. Rahsean Stevenson’s three-point play with 2:04 to go in the third put the Colonels in front, 33-32.
The Tigers then locked down on defense and went on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter and take a 41-33 advantage.
Dillard hit a pair of 3-pointers from the left corner to start the fourth quarter and Hopkinsville extended the run to 19-0 and lead 51-33.
Babb said he challenged his team after the Colonels took the lead and the Tigers responded.
As disappointed Colonels’ fans began to exit the gym, Stephenson converted two free throws with 1:36 to play and stop the Tigers’ onslaught.
Christian County Head Coach Dior Curtis said some adjustments at halftime worked for the Colonels out of the halftime, but the breaks didn’t go the Colonels’ way after they took the lead.
Dillard finished with 11 points. Bass and Leavell also had 11 for Hoptown and Tashaun Quarles added 10.
Hoptown’s James Bradley Jr. was honored in the second half as he scored his 1,000th-career point.
Darren Bigbee kept the Colonels’ hopes alive in the first half as he scored all 11 of his points in the first two quarters. Stevenson and Tom Johnson each finished with nine points.
Both Hopkinsville and Christian County advance to next week’s Region 2 Tournament, which will be held at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School beginning on Wednesday night. The draw for the tournament is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday morning.
Score by Quarters:
Christian County 14 7 12 11 – 44
Hopkinsville 21 9 11 15 – 56
Individual Scoring:
CCHS (13-13) – Wharton 6, Johnson 9, Bigbee 11, Henderson 3, Bridges 3, Stevenson 9, Winston 3.
HHS (17-13) – Battle 5, Bradley Jr. 8, Dillard 11, Bass 11, Quarles 10, Leavell 11.
3-Point Goals: CCHS – Johnson 3, Bigbee; HHS – Battle, Dillard 3, Leavell.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis