Caldwell County is headed to the boys’ 2nd Region All A Classic championship game for the second straight year. The Tigers, who have never won the “small school” basketball regional, rallied in the second half to defeat Crittenden County 49-47 in semifinal action Friday night in Eddyville.
Caldwell, which lost to University Heights Academy in overtime in the finale last year, will face host Lyon County at 7 p.m. Saturday for the 2nd Region All A title.
Jabrion Spikes had nine of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers (2-2) get past the Rockets. Spikes also had eight rebounds in the contest.
Crittenden (1-3) looked good early, running out to a 12-3 lead in the opening period.
Up 15-11 after one quarter, the Rockets led by as much as eight in the second period before getting to halftime with a 24-19 advantage.
Crittenden still led 36-34 entering the fourth quarter, but Caldwell drew even at 36-36 and 38-38.
The Tigers’ first lead of the night came when Spikes converted two free throws with 3:59 to play, putting Caldwell up 42-41.
The game was tied four times in the fourth quarter and the lead changed hands four times as well.
Crittenden’s last lead came on a driving layup by Gabe Mott with 2:17 to go. That put the Rockets up 46-44.
But Caldwell eighth grader Collin Whittington drained a huge 3-point from the left corner at the 1:23 mark, putting the Tigers up for good.
Crittenden was within 48-47 when Mott made the second of two free throws with 31 seconds left.
Spikes did the same at the 0:15 mark to put Caldwell up by two at 49-47.
Crittenden had one last chance following a jump-ball call under the Rocket basket with 3.7 seconds remaining. But Tripp Branch knocked the ball into the hands of Spikes, who headed up the court and dribbled out the time to send the Tigers into the regional title tilt.
Branch added 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals for the Tigers.
Mott led the Rockets with 12 points. Tyler Boone and Preston Turley each had nine points.
Free live videostreams of Saturday’s championship game will be available. The Tiger broadcast can be found at WPKYonline.com while the Lyons video will be on the Lyon County Schools YouTube page.
Crittenden County 15 9 12 11 — 47
Caldwell County 11 8 15 15 — 49
Crittenden County (1-3)—Gabe Mott 12, Tyler Boone 9, Preston Turley 9, Preston Morgeson 8, Travis Champion 7, Maddux Carlson 2.
Caldwell County (2-2)—Jabrion Spikes 17, Tripp Branch 13, Carter Whittington 6, Tate VanHooser 6, Giovante Riley 4, Collin Whittington 3.
