Based on Friday’s performance, no one told Fort Campbell that it hadn’t won a high school boys’ basketball game against Hopkinsville in 14 years.
On the other hand, Tigers senior Don Victor wasn’t ready to see that streak come to an end.
A limited Falcons squad fought to stay close at Tiger Gym in an 8th District tilt, but Victor came up big in all the right moments to lead Hoptown to a 61-48 home victory.
FCHS, which enjoyed several brief leads during the first half, tied the game twice during the third quarter – respectively at 26-26 and 36-36 – only to see Victor explode in response. The HHS veteran drilled six 3-pointers, scored a game-high 33 points and played a vital role in the win.
The Falcons, who played the contest with just two subs, got 20 points from Cameron Pratt and 13 rebounds from Dylan Johnson to remain within striking distance throughout the night.
And when Pratt finished a contested layup, pulling Fort Campbell within 50-45 of Hopkinsville with 4:43 remaining in the game, it appeared that the Robbie Townsend-coached Falcons were poised for one last push at their first win over Hoptown since the district tournament in February 2006.
Enter Victor. Again.
The senior answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession, then followed with corner treys on two of his next three shot attempts to give the Tigers leads of 52-45 (2:45 left) and 60-45 (1:08 left), giving him 25 points after the halftime break.
Victor entered the game averaging over 18 points per game. He also finished with seven boards.
Fort Campbell, which started the season 5-1, has now dropped six games in a row. But the Falcons showed vast signs of improvement under Townsend, applying pressure during the 32-minute affair at Tiger Gym.
After trailing 26-22 at the midway break, the Falcons forced a pair of turnovers and used a quick 4-0 run to tie the game early in the third quarter. Hopkinsville responded with a 10-2 run, but FCHS never cracked and weathered the storm, proven when one of Pratt’s four 3-pointers tied the game at 36-36 near the 2:00 mark in the third period.
The Tigers would counter again, sparked by Victory, with a 9-2 run, and held a 45-38 advantage after three quarters. Pratt and his pesky teammates worked to stay within three possessions, but were held at bay by Victor’s hot shooting and 10 assists from Hopkinsville point guard Arthur McKnight.
Aaron Hall also reached double figures for the Falcons with 10 points. Jeremiah Holley, who came into the game with a field-goal percentage of nearly 68, had eight offensive rebounds for Fort Campbell, but struggled from the field in his seven-point effort.
KC Cabiness and Javon Smith-Rudd combined to score 16 points for Hoptown. Jaron Nicholas – the younger brother of former Tiger standout James Nicholas – converted a crucial three-point play during the win and finished with five points.
The Tigers are back in action at home Saturday, hosting University of Louisville signee JJ Traynor (17.8 points per game) and Bardstown (6-6) at 7:30 p.m.
Fort Campbell travels Monday to take on regional foe Dawson Springs, before hosting Pleasant View Christian (TN) as part of a girls-boys doubleheader Tuesday.
Fort Campbell 10 12 16 10 – 48
Hopkinsville 15 11 19 16 – 61
Fort Campbell (5-7) — Cameron Pratt 20, Aaron Hall 10, Jeremiah Holley 7, Dylan Johnson 6, Ryan Pretlow 3, Ke’Shawn Daniels 2
Hopkinsville (7-6) — Don Victor 33, KC Cabiness 9, Javon Smith-Rudd 7, Jaron Nicholas 5, Reece Jesse 4, Jordan Pitts 2, Arthur McKnight 1
