The Hopkinsville boys’ basketball team opened what looks to be a promising 2017/18 season with a 79-52 win over the visiting Caldwell County Tigers. Caldwell was playing its second game of the season, after picking up a 64-50 win over Lyon County on Tuesday. Hopkinsville started quickly, causing problems for Caldwell with their full court pressure. Hoptown junior James Nicholas led them early, on the way to 10 first half points, and Hopkinsville led 24-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Caldwell took better care of the ball in the second quarter, with junior Derrin Boyd and sophomore Cayden Fraliex attacking Hopkinsville, and notching 10 points a piece in the first half. Caldwell outscored Hoptown 17-15 in the second quarter, but the steady play of Hoptown senior Jalen Johnson kept the Tigers in front, scoring 14 first half points and leading his team to a 39-33 halftime lead.
After the break, Hopkinsville began to stretch its lead on the strength of a string of 3 pointers, with junior DeEvan Williams, sophomore Don Victor, and senior sharp-shooter Bryce Smith all connecting from deep. Hopkinsville outscored Caldwell 19-8 in the period, taking a 58-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
Johnson took over for Hoptown in the fourth quarter, repeatedly getting to the rim and finishing and drawing fouls, giving the Tigers a 20 point lead at 65-45 with back-to-back layups with six minutes remaining. Hopkinsville cruised from there, with a Johnson runner pushing the lead to 73-49 with four left. Both teams would clear their benches from there, and after outscoring Caldwell 21-11 in the final quarter, Hopkinsville would post a final score of 79-52.
Johnson’s 28 points led Hopkinsville, with Nicholas adding 13 after finding himself in foul trouble in the second half. Victor scored 12 points, Smith tallied 9 on three 3-pointers, and junior Jacarius Burks chipped in 8, scoring 6 in the second half.
For Caldwell, Boyd led the charge with 17, while junior John Davis scored 6 in each half to match Fraliex’s total of 12.
Hopkinsville has a quick turnaround, facing Bowling Green in the Marshall County Hoopfest on Sunday. Caldwell returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Marion to face 0-2 Crittenden County.
