The Hopkinsville girls’ basketball team squeaked out a 56-54 win over Calloway County on Saturday at the Independence Bank Valentine’s Shootout at Murray High School. The win is the Lady Tigers’ second consecutive and third in four outings, improving their record to 17-8. The Lady Lakers see a three-game winning streak snapped, falling to 19-8 on the year.
The Lady Tigers started slow, only managing 8 first-quarter points, and trailing 16-8 after the first eight minutes. Junior forward Jayla Rose kept Hoptown in the game, scoring 7 of the 8. The Lady Tigers woke up in the second quarter, holding the Lady Lakers to only 5 points and more than doubling their first-quarter output with 20. Hopkinsville went into the halftime break leading by 7 at 28-21.
Rose had the hot hand again in the second quarter, adding 8 more points to lead the Lady Tigers with 15 at the break. Senior point guard London Foster followed with 6. Calloway sophomore forward Charlee Settle matched Rose with 15 points of her own, but no other Lady Laker scored more than 2.
Hopkinsville extended its lead by 3 in the third quarter, outscoring Calloway 18-15 behind 7 points from junior point guard Breon Oldham. The 46-36 score going into the final frame was the first double-digit lead of the game, and the Lady Tigers appeared to be in control. However, like the opening quarter, Hoptown struggled to put points on the board in the fourth, only scoring 10. Settle led the Lady Lakers comeback bid with 9, but Foster matched her, and Hopkinsville held on for the 56-54 win.
Rose scored 21 to lead Hoptown, joined in double figures by Foster, who was named player of the game, with 15 and Oldham with 10. Rose also pulled down 7 rebounds, second on the team behind freshman forward Lakayla Samuel’s 8. Sophomore guard Anna King had 5 points, all in the third quarter, junior guard Yogianah McKnight had 3, and 8th grade forward Donisha Flowers added 2. Settle led all scorers with 32 for Calloway, followed by junior guard Keeli Puckett with 10.
Next up for the Lady Tigers is a visit from Lyon County (17-7) on Tuesday.
