Crittenden County needed a last-second shot to beat Trigg County in last year’s district tournament semifinals. Gabe Mott made sure Monday there would be no need for late-game heroics.
The Rocket senior guard scored 37 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter to lead Crittenden to an 82-63 win over Trigg County at Wildcat Gym. The Rockets move into Thursday’s championship game against Lyon County, a 94-58 winner over Livingston Central in the first semifinal.
Mott was 12 of 18 from the field and knocked down 13 of 15 at the free throw line. Crittenden’s accuracy at the charity stripe kept the Wildcats from completing several second half rallies. The Rockets were 23 of 27 at the line.
With the game tied 6-6 early, Ben Dobyns hit consecutive 3-pointers to push the Rocket lead to 12-6. Mott scored the final four points of the quarter to give Crittenden an 18-8 lead after one quarter.
Kendric Adams scored 13 first half points and helped the Wildcats battle back to tie the game at 27.
Mott and Tyler Boone combined for a 13-4 run to end the half, which included a falling-down shot by Boone to end the half for a 40-31 lead.
Trigg got as close as 50-46 midway through the third quarter, but Jhaden Vaughn left the game with a turned ankle. The Wildcats managed just one field goal the rest of the quarter, and Crittenden capitalized with a 15-5 run. Mott scored eight of the points.
Crittenden hit 15 of 18 free throws in the quarter to seal the win.
Mott’s 37 points came on 12 of 18 from the field and 13 of 15 at the line. Tyler Boone and Preston Morgeson each scored 12 points with Boone added nine boards. Preston Turley battled foul trouble to score nine points and pull down 14 rebounds.
In addition to their accuracy at the free throw line, the Rocket shot 51-percent from the field and outrebounded Trigg 40-25.
De’Von Ladd led the Wildcats with 19 points. Adams finished with 13 points, and Khyran Vaughn had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Trigg County’s season ends with a record of 8-13. Trigg won four straight district titles from 2013-17 but have not made the championship game since – the longest region tourney drought for the Wildcats since 1994.
Crittenden County will play Lyon County Thursday at 7 pm for the district championship.
Crittenden County 18 22 21 21– 82
Trigg County 8 23 18 14– 63
Crittenden County [13-8] – Mott 37, Morgeson 12, Boone 12, Turley 9, Dobyns 9, Champion 3
Trigg County [8-13] – Ladd 19, Adams 13, K. Vaughn 9, J. Vaughn 7, Thompson 6, T. Ahart 6, Parham 3
