Hopkinsville waited as a team to begin its 2021 boys’ basketball season, and nine Tigers joined in the scoring fun as they opened with a 71-53 win at Trigg County Tuesday.
Hoptown’s first five games of the season were scratched due to COVID-19 protocols before Tuesday’s opener. That leaves Christian County and Dawson Springs as the only region teams yet to play a game.
Hopkinsville played like a team that has experienced starts and stops during the preseason. They looked comfortable in the press most of the night, scoring 33 points off 29 Trigg turnovers.
Hoptown also shot 50-percent from the field, including 11-of-16 in the third quarter as they outscored the Wildcats 25-15. Hoptown’s press forced 10 turnovers in the quarter that led directly to 15 Tiger points.
The first quarter featured three ties and a lead change before Hoptown used a 9-0 run to end the frame and claim a 17-8 lead after the first eight minutes.
Trigg County would get as close as seven points at 20-13 in the second quarter on a Kendric Adams bucket but got no closer.
Jamarcus Burks came off the bench to score 17 points and grab six rebounds for the Tigers. Alijah Watts and Reece Jesse each scored 10 points with Jesse adding eight rebounds.
Hoptown had 21 steals in the game with Daisjuan Mercer nabbing six and Watts getting five.
Not every stat line was a good one for Hoptown. They turned the ball over 23 times which led to 18 Trigg points. The Tigers were also 6-of-15 at the free throw line. But still, not a bad start for the Tigers.
Trigg County got 15 points and four steals from De’Von Ladd and a season-high 11 points from Tae Thompson. Adams had eight points and six rebounds.
Hopkinsville has won 14 straight games over Trigg County dating back 15 years.
The Tigers have added a road game at Greenwood Wednesday, while Trigg County will host Caldwell County Thursday at Wildcat Gym.
Hopkinsville 17 17 25 12– 71
Trigg County 8 14 15 16– 53
Hopkinsville [1-0] – Burks 17, Watts 10, Jesse 10, Cabiness 8, Mercer 8, McKnight 7, Smith 5, Dowlen 4, Manning 2
Trigg County [1-3] – Ladd 15, Thompson 11, Adams 8, K. Vaughn 8, J. Vaughn 5, T. Ahart 3, Gude 2, Parham 1
