After missing out on the 2nd Region tournament last season, the Hopkinsville Tigers are back on track, securing a dominant 91-41 victory Tuesday night and punching their ticket to the district championship game.
The game started with the Tigers facing an early challenge, but once they settled in, their defense took control. Hopkinsville’s full-court pressure and relentless defensive effort completely shut down their opponent’s offensive rhythm. The Tigers locked in, forcing multiple turnovers and swarming to the ball, preventing clean looks at the basket.
After an early deficit, Hopkinsville responded with an 11-0 run to claim the lead by the end of the first quarter. From that moment on, it was all Tigers. Their defensive pressure intensified, leading to a series of steals and transition buckets. By halftime, Hopkinsville had turned a close contest into a commanding 41-21 advantage.
The second half was more of the same, as the Tigers’ defensive intensity continued to wear down their opponent. Hopkinsville outscored their competition 16-6 to start the third quarter, extending their lead to 57-27. With every possession, the Tigers made it increasingly difficult for the opposition to get clean shots, while also dominating the boards.
Hopkinsville’s depth was on display late in the game, with the bench maintaining the same level of intensity and extending the lead to the final 50-point margin.
Jonovan Leavell led the Tigers with 23 points, while James Bradley Jr. added 18. Curtis Dillard came off the bench for 11, and Layton Giltner just missed double figures with nine.
With the win, Hopkinsville improves to 15-14, securing a spot in the 8th District championship game and the 2nd Region tournament. After reaching the regional finals in both 2022 and 2023, the Tigers are once again positioned to make a deep postseason run.
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