It took three shots in the final 10 seconds of regulation, overtime, and double-overtime for Trigg County to finally take a 72-70 decision over St. Mary Tuesday at Wildcat Gym.
The win was a departure from a loss to Webster County three days earlier when the Wildcats blew a nine-point lead and didn’t score in the final three minutes of the contest.
Tuesday’s game featured 12 ties and 13 lead changes, and it appeared as if they were headed to victory in regulation. The Wildcats led 52-46 with 2:29 left. That’s when St. Mary guard Parker McCauley nearly won the game for the Vikings. He scored 10 points in the final two minutes.
After De’Von Ladd hit a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left, McCauley hit a shot inside the final eight seconds to put St. Mary up 56-54. Ladd tried a game-winner at the top of the key with three seconds left. His off-balance shot caromed off the backboard to Kendric Adams who put the miss back in to send the game to overtime.
The Vikings took a four-point lead in overtime, but Khyran Vaughn hit a pair of shots, and Tae Thompson buried a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 63-62 lead.
St. Mary made three of four free throws in the final 1:38 to take a 63-63 lead. Thompson hit a twisting shot in the paint with four seconds left to send the game to a second overtime.
Trigg never trailed in the second overtime, but Cade Fleming hit two free throws with seven seconds left to tie the game at 70. After the second make, Trigg quickly inbounded the ball and got up the floor where De’Von Ladd hit a baseline shot with 1.2 seconds left. McCauley’s half-court shot nearly banked in, but the miss gave Trigg the 72-70 win.
The win was Trigg’s first over St. Mary on its home court since 1996. Ironically, that 83-80 win also went to overtime.
Trigg County shot a season-high 61-percent from the field. The Wildcats attempted only ten 3-pointers, hitting three, and hit 27 of 39 shots inside the arc. Turnovers kept the Wildcats from winning the game in regulation. St. Mary was able to score 29 points off 23 Trigg turnovers.
Ladd led the Wildcats with 28 points. Khyran Vaughn added 20 points and nine rebounds. Jhaden Vaughn and Thompson both handed out seven assists, while Adams scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
McCauley scored a game-high 30 points for St. Mary with 16 points coming in the fourth quarter and the first overtime. Michael Lurtz added 13 points. The Vikings fell to 12-13 and had won seven of nine entering Tuesday’s game.
Trigg County improved to 8-10 and will host Whitesville Trinity Saturday.
St. Mary 11 15 9 21 9 5– 70
Trigg County 13 12 11 20 9 7– 72
St. Mary [12-13] – McCauley 30, Lurtz 13, Haas 9, Fleming 7, Willett 7, Bell 4
Trigg County [8-10] – Ladd 28, K. Vaughn 20, Adams 10, J. Vaughn 9, Thompson 5
