The Valley Vikings used a quick finish to the 3rd quarter and a quick start to the 4th quarter to pull away from the Hopkinsville Tigers on their way to an 83-58 win in the second game for both teams at the Paducah Tilghman Christmas Tournament. It was the second loss of the day for the Tigers, who fell to Mayfield in their opening game of the tournament.
Valley got rolling early in the game, jumping out to a 19-8 lead. The Vikings were able to get to the lead with run outs after missed shots, and pushing the tempo after the Tigers would score. Valley would hold a 22-14 lead after the first quarter.
Hopkinsville made their move to get back into the game in the second quarter. The Tigers opened the quarter on a 14-6 run to tie the game at 28-28. The two teams went back and forth before Valley inched out to a 36-32 lead at the half.
The margin stayed in the same range through most of the quarter before the Vikings, with the score at 46-42, finished the third quarter with a 7-2 spurt to take a 53-44 lead headed into the final quarter.
The wheels then came off the wagon for the Tigers at the beginning of the 4th quarter, as the Vikings scored the first 17 of the quarter, as part of a 19-0 run, to cruise out to a 72-44 lead and effectively put the game away.
Hopkinsville was led by Don Victor with 14 points, while Tefrell Toliver added 10. Curt Lewis paced Valley with 29 points, 19 of which came in the 2nd half.
