The first ever game for the Caldwell County Lady Tigers in the Kentucky 2A Championships will be a memorable one. The Lady Tigers got big performances from Bella McConnell and Jacey Jaggers as they edged out Paducah Tilghman 69-66 in overtime Thursday night at the CAB.
What the game may have lacked in style, it made up for in intensity. The two teams went back and forth all game long, not settling the issue until Majah Hollowell knocked down two free throws in the final seconds to get to the final margin.
The game opened with both teams trading the lead. With Caldwell County up 10-9, the Lady Blue Tornado went on a 9-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. Late first quarter baskets by McConnell and Jaggers cut the lead to 18-14 at the end of the quarter.
Caldwell County’s momentum continued early in the 2nd quarter, as the Lady Tigers scored the first seven points of the quarter to go up 21-18. Tilghman stormed right back with an 11-3 run to take the lead back at 29-24. A three in the final seconds would send Tilghman to the locker room with a 37-30 lead.
With McConnell and Jaggers leading the way, Caldwell County got right into the game in the opening moments of the second half. McConnell scored 8 points in the first four minutes of the quarter, as the Lady Tigers worked their way back in front 44-41. Tilghman 8th grader Destiny Thomas, who was big all night long, then scored six points the rest of the quarter as the Lady Tornado tied it up 48-48 at quarter’s end.
Caldwell County opened the 4th with five quick points to go up 53-48. Again, Tilghman came right back to tie it at 55-55, and the fight to the end was on. Bella McConnell hit two free throws with 57 seconds left to tie the game at 61-61 and send it to overtime.
In the extra period, Jacey Jaggers stepped up with four points, and McConnell had a huge stickback with 2:20 to go, as the Lady Tigers finally secured the win in the waning seconds.
Bella McConnell led Caldwell County with 29 points and 16 rebounds. Jacey Jaggers added 21. Peyton Young hit a couple of big threes and chipped in with 8 points.
Destiny Thomas led Tilghman with 24, while Diamond Gray added 19.
Caldwell County improves to 4-2. Their next game in the Kentucky 2A Championships will be January 10th at Webster County.
