Sam Almon scored on a driving layup with 2.1 seconds to play to lift Hopkins County Central to a 67-66 victory over Caldwell County in a 7th District thriller Thursday night in Mortons Gap.
Caldwell’s Derrin Boyd had given the Tigers a 66-65 lead when he slashed to the basket and scored with 14.8 seconds remaining. However, Boyd couldn’t complete a three-point trip, leaving Caldwell with just a one-point lead.
Almon took advantage at the other end, finding an opening on the right side and getting all the way to the rim for the game-winner.
Caldwell still had one final opportunity, with a midcourt shot from Cayden Fraliex hitting the square but bouncing off the iron as the final horn sounded.
Things looked good earlier for Caldwell, which ran out to a quick 10-2 lead and held a 41-33 advantage at halftime.
However, Hopkins Central opened the second half with a 19-4 run to go up 52-45.
Caldwell drew even again when Tripp Branch nailed a 3-pointer with 6:41 to play. That made it 57-57.
The Tigers also led by three at 62-59 following a trey by John Davis with 5:32 to go.
A bucket inside by Cole Smiley off a dish from Fraliex had Caldwell up 64-61 with 4:14 to go.
But the Tigers’ only points the rest of the way came on Boyd’s bucket late as Hopkins Central picked up the district win despite playing without leading scorer Tylan Mann, who missed the contest with an injury.
Ethan Putty picked up the slack for the Storm with 28 points. Adrian Stringer added 16 points and 10 rebounds while Almon finished with 12 points.
Fraliex topped the Caldwell scoresheet with 21 points. Davis had 17. Boyd, the Tigers’ leading scorer, was held to eight points. Jamarius Blaine had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Hopkins Central improved to 8-9 overall and 1-1 in the district while Caldwell is now 11-7 and 1-2.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Trigg County on Tuesday as part of a girls and boys varsity doubleheader.
