The Hopkinsville Tigers crashed Christian County’s Hall of Fame party Friday night with a 61-49 boys’ District 8 basketball win at Lyle Dunbar Gym.
The Colonels honored their 2026 Hall of Fame class before the game, which was the last one between the two old rivals at Lyle Dunbar Gym. The two schools will consolidate next season.
As the Hall of Fame class watched courtside, the Tigers spoiled the good vibes running off eight straight points to end the first quarter to lead 13-9.
The Colonels (6-6, 0-1) led 9-5 but their leading scorer and rebounder, Rahsean Stevenson, picked up his second foul and went to the bench. He did not play the rest of the first half.
Hoptown (9-7, 2-0) eventually would push its lead to as much as 10 points in the second quarter. Just as it looked like the Tigers might run away with the game, Christian County’s Darren Bigbee got hot and scored the final seven points of the half to draw the Colonels to within 27-24 at the halftime break.
Jay Henderson kept the Colonels in the game in the first half as he scored 10 of the team’s first 14 points. He ended the night with 19 points.
Hoptown roared out of the break with another 7-2 run to take a 34-26 advantage and eventually pushed its lead to as many as 13 points. Stevenson picked up his third foul early in the period and went to the bench again for the Colonels.
Tashaun Quarles provided the spark for the Tigers as he scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half. The senior forward helped Hoptown take a 47-40 advantage into the fourth period.
Behind the play of Quarles and James Bradley Jr., who finished with 16 points, the Tigers led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter and cruised to the victory.
Jayven Battle added 12 points for the Tigers, who are scheduled to play host to Madisonville-North Hopkins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Airtime is 5:15 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
Bigbee finished with 10 points for the Colonels, who are back in action Tuesday night at Henderson County. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and airtime is 7:15 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
The Colonels were scheduled to play Saturday at Heritage Christian Academy but HCA officials announced Friday the Warriors were forfeiting Saturday’s game and would be opting out of the postseason playoffs as well.
Score by Quarters:
Hopkinsville 13 14 20 14 – 61
Christian Co. 9 15 16 9 – 49
Individual Scoring:
HHS (9-7, 2-0) – Battle 12, Giltner 2, Bradley Jr. 16, Jesse 2, Dillard 3, Bass 7, Quarles 19.
CCHS (6-6, 0-1) – Acree 2, Johnson 3, Bigbee 10, Henderson 19, Farley 5, Stevenson 6, Winston 3.
3-Point Goals: HHS – Battle 2, Bradley Jr., Dillard; CCHS – Johnson, Bigbee 2, Henderson, Winston.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis