By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter
nbrockman@the-messenger.com
HOPKINSVILLE -- When describing the Hopkins County Central boys' basketball team's latest game at University Heights Academy on Tuesday night, nice or neat would not have been adjectives used to discuss the Storm's play.
Nonetheless, Central (12-5) utilized a tenacious game-long effort to overcome less-than-stellar shooting and ball-handling, as well a scrappy Blazer squad, for a 54-49 victory.
"I don't know how the kids are doing it, but they're finding ways to win and that's all that matters," Central coach Matt Bell said. "It seems like we make plays when we need to make plays."
Pitted in a matchup that saw 12 lead changes and seven ties, Central made its move in the fourth quarter. Ahead by two points with 2:23 remaining, guard Je'Vonte Hughes provided the eventual game-winning shot when he dribbled down the court, drove into the lane and put the ball on his hip as he drew contact. The shot fell, and so did the ensuing free-throw to put the Storm up 51-46.
Blazer baller Jordan Grace answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner on the next University Heights possession, but it was the home team's last field goal. Central's defense stifled the Blazers in the final 6:05, limiting them to just two made field goals.
Blazer baller Jordan Grace answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner on the next University Heights possession, but it was the home team's last field goal. Central's defense stifled the Blazers in the final 6:05, limiting them to just two made field goals.
"At the five-minute mark when we called timeout, we challenged them defensively a little bit and really wanted to know who wanted to play defense and more importantly who wanted to guard (Matt McGowan), and Nikee (Caldwel) said 'Me,' " Bell said.
Nonetheless, Central (12-5) utilized a tenacious game-long effort to overcome less-than-stellar shooting and ball-handling, as well a scrappy Blazer squad, for a 54-49 victory.
"I don't know how the kids are doing it, but they're finding ways to win and that's all that matters," Central coach Matt Bell said. "It seems like we make plays when we need to make plays."
Pitted in a matchup that saw 12 lead changes and seven ties, Central made its move in the fourth quarter. Ahead by two points with 2:23 remaining, guard Je'Vonte Hughes provided the eventual game-winning shot when he dribbled down the court, drove into the lane and put the ball on his hip as he drew contact. The shot fell, and so did the ensuing free-throw to put the Storm up 51-46.
Blazer baller Jordan Grace answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner on the next University Heights possession, but it was the home team's last field goal. Central's defense stifled the Blazers in the final 6:05, limiting them to just two made field goals.
Blazer baller Jordan Grace answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner on the next University Heights possession, but it was the home team's last field goal. Central's defense stifled the Blazers in the final 6:05, limiting them to just two made field goals.
"At the five-minute mark when we called timeout, we challenged them defensively a little bit and really wanted to know who wanted to play defense and more importantly who wanted to guard (Matt McGowan), and Nikee (Caldwel) said 'Me,' " Bell said.
McGowan finished with a game-high 20 points, but made just one shot in the final five minutes.
"We needed defense to win the game because our offense wasn't there, but we're a good team," Caldwell said of his team's effort down the stretch. "We have high hopes for this year."
University Heights pulled within two points with two minutes to go in the game, but did not come any closer.
In the first half, the Storm quickly found themselves in an unfavorable tempo, which led to four turnovers in just the first two minutes of action.
"They're a real quick team and they made us play quick and we fell into that the first half," senior Chuck Jones said. "We knew that slowing it down near the end of the game and making some key plays on offense (was going) to get us going."
After initially making some ill-advised passes, Central settled down and committed just four turnovers over the next 14 minutes of play as Bell shouted "keep working" from the sidelines.
One telling play of the Storm's constant aggressiveness occurred in the final two minutes of the first half. Following a missed Central shot, senior Corey Coble flew to the ground to smother a rebound. Coble wrestled the ball away from a couple of University Heights players and found an open Cameron Tabor to take a 22-20 lead.
Jones finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. Hughes (11) and Dan Croft (10) joined Jones in double-figures. Caldwell and Coble recorded seven and six rebounds, respectively.
Central has won five straight games since a 49-37 loss on Dec. 30 to Newport Central Catholic at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.
In junior varsity action, University Heights defeated Central 54-40.
HCCHS (12-5) 11 14 16 13 - 54
UHA (4-11) 14 8 15 12 - 49
HCCHS: Chuck Jones 19, Je'Vonte Hughes 11, Dan Croft 10, Nikee Caldwell 4, Corey Coble 4, Cameron Tabor 4, Josh Riley 2.
"We needed defense to win the game because our offense wasn't there, but we're a good team," Caldwell said of his team's effort down the stretch. "We have high hopes for this year."
University Heights pulled within two points with two minutes to go in the game, but did not come any closer.
In the first half, the Storm quickly found themselves in an unfavorable tempo, which led to four turnovers in just the first two minutes of action.
"They're a real quick team and they made us play quick and we fell into that the first half," senior Chuck Jones said. "We knew that slowing it down near the end of the game and making some key plays on offense (was going) to get us going."
After initially making some ill-advised passes, Central settled down and committed just four turnovers over the next 14 minutes of play as Bell shouted "keep working" from the sidelines.
One telling play of the Storm's constant aggressiveness occurred in the final two minutes of the first half. Following a missed Central shot, senior Corey Coble flew to the ground to smother a rebound. Coble wrestled the ball away from a couple of University Heights players and found an open Cameron Tabor to take a 22-20 lead.
Jones finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. Hughes (11) and Dan Croft (10) joined Jones in double-figures. Caldwell and Coble recorded seven and six rebounds, respectively.
Central has won five straight games since a 49-37 loss on Dec. 30 to Newport Central Catholic at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.
In junior varsity action, University Heights defeated Central 54-40.
HCCHS (12-5) 11 14 16 13 - 54
UHA (4-11) 14 8 15 12 - 49
HCCHS: Chuck Jones 19, Je'Vonte Hughes 11, Dan Croft 10, Nikee Caldwell 4, Corey Coble 4, Cameron Tabor 4, Josh Riley 2.
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