Saturday, December 20, 2008
MORTONS GAP — A second-half letdown got the best of the Hopkins County Central girls’ basketball team on Friday evening after playing evenly with the Hopkinsville Tigers for 16 minutes in the opening game of the Hopkins County Central Holiday Classic.
Central (1-4) trailed by just one point at halftime despite many turnovers, but Hopkinsville (2-3) turned on the offense while the Lady Storm labored to create baskets in a 65-39 loss.
For the second straight game, Central lost by 20 or more points after being within one point of its opponent at intermission.
“We can compete with these teams, but when the second half happens, I don’t know if these kids are satisfied but we have to find a way to put four quarters together,” Flener said.
Down six points early in the third quarter, the Lady Storm’s Brooke Daugherty nailed a long jumper to pull within four. The shot would be one of Central’s last highlights though as Hopkinsville ripped off a 14-2 run to end the quarter.
Central senior Amber Coakley said the Lady Storm simply could not recover quickly enough.
“We got down and let that momentum drop and we had problems keeping the momentum from the first half going in the second half,” she said. “That’s just something we’re going to have to work on. Keep our confidence up and not quit.”
The fourth quarter did not treat Central any better; Hopkinsville outscored the Lady Storm 17-7 in the final eight minutes of action.
Although the halftime score indicated Central played Hopkinsville evenly, the Lady Storm committed many turnovers in the first half.
Lady Tigers coach Tonya Wells employed a full-court press in the first half that kept Central rather off-balance.
“We did good things at times and then just got crazy with the ball and did things we don’t ever do in practice,” Flener said of her team’s miscues.
Early on in the second quarter, the Lady Storm attempted a few “home run” passes to go over the full-court press, but found that equally unsuccessful.
Fortunately for Central, Coakley put the team on her shoulders and got to work. At one point, Coakley scored eight straight points for the Lady Storm to pull the team within one at 21-20.
“The momentum just kept me going and I wanted to get us up at half,” Coakley said.
On Central’s next offensive possession, Hopkinsville left Courtney Snodgrass open beneath the basket. Snodgrass waited, accepted the pass and put in the easily lay-up to go ahead.
The Lady Tigers and Lady Storm traded baskets in the final minute with Hopkinsville taking a 25-24 lead into halftime.
Central’s Brittney Orten scored just a single point, but Flener said the senior’s defense stood out
“She was diving on the floor in the backcourt, three times in a row when we were down by 30,” Flener said. “She does that every day.”
Flener also said she was impressed by the defensive play of Daugherty and Shalara Wells who helped keep Hopkinsville’s guard combo of Sharae Wilson and Jessica Hobson to 13 points.
While the Lady Storm prevented the guards from creating a lot of production, Lady Tiger post players Christy Soldo and Marla Boyd combined for 30 points.
“(Boyd) did a great job attacking the boards and putting back and making all her shots,” Flener said. “We keyed the guards we needed to stop, but we let (Boyd) get double-digits tonight. We just have to find a way to balance everything.”
The loss marks Central’s fourth in a row, but the Lady Storm will look to get back to winning ways at 12 p.m. against Union County (1-2).
n Tuesday’s scheduled high school basketball boys-girls doubleheader between Madisonville-North Hopkins and Hopkins County Central will be made-up Jan. 29. Originally postponed for inclement weather, the girls will begin the evening at 6 p.m. and be followed by the boys contest at 7:30 p.m.
HOPKINSVILLE 13 12 23 17 — 65
HOPKINS COUNTY CENTRAL 12 12 8 7 — 39
Hopkinsville (65) — Marla Boyd 16, Christy Soldo 14, Ashlee Cole 9, Shikeya Miller 9, Jessica Hobson 7, Sharae Wilson 6, Desherica Edwards 2, Gena Manning 2
Hopkins County Central (39) — Amber Coakley 15, Brooke Daugherty 5, Shalara Wells 5 Whitney Orange 4, Courtney Snodgrass 4, Ashley Flener 3, Krhea Orten 2, Brittney Orten 1
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