[Stardust]

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Making its first trip to the Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16, Hopkinsville High School knew it had to play under control and make some hustle plays to advance at E.A. Diddle Arena.

And that’s why the Lady Tigers survived.

Hopkinsville came up with two loose balls off its own missed free throws in the final 14 seconds and managed to pull out a 56-52 victory over Marshall County before about 4,000 fans in the first round on Thursday.

“We have to make those free throws,” Hoptown coach Tonya Wells said. “But I was pleased when we missed them, there was two seniors on the floor diving after the ball. We knew we had to get those loose balls.

“In the end, a win is a win. It’s nice for these girls to come here and win.”

Hopkinsville (32-4), which led by as many as 14 points early in the fourth quarter, had to fight off several runs by the Lady Marshals (27-9).

Marshall County cut to 46-41 after three quarters and pulled within 51-50 on a bucket by Mariah McKenty at 2:17 left. Hoptown missed a shot on its next possession and Alyssa Barnard gave the Lady Marshals a 52-51 lead with a putback at 1:08.

“We told them that you just can’t say that ‘Hey, we’re up by 14 and we’ve got this’,” Wells said. “We had to dig in and stay into the game.”

Christy Soldo scored on a putback for the Lady Tigers at 0:42.2 before Taylor Meadows missed a three-pointer for Marshall County. Jlynn Majors then missed the front end of a one-and-one with 12 seconds to go.

But Soldo tracked down the loose ball. She threw to Trina Cager, who was fouled and hit the first of two free throws with 0:08.0 left to make it 54-52.

“Toward the end of the game, we have to have every ball,” Soldo said. “We either had to get the ball or lose pretty much at that point.”

Ashlee Cole then got her hands on the second free throw – a miss – and knocked it out of bounds off a Marshall County player. Soldo sealed it with two free throws.

“I was like, ‘You know what -- we are going to the next round because I can make these’,” Soldo said. “You have to make free throws, especially late in the game.”

Soldo, who has committed to Murray State University, led Hopkinsville with 24 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals. She was 11 of 17 from the field and made her only two free throws.

Haley Cook added 12 points on 3 of 5 three-pointers as the Lady Tigers hit 22 of 48 from the field, including 4 of 8 three-pointers.

McKenty had 15 points for Marshall County, which was making its 19th Sweet 16 appearance but hasn’t won a first-round game since 1990.

Hopkinsville will now take a 15-game winning streak into Friday’s 7:30 p.m. quarterfinal against No. 2 Marion County (32-4).

“We just have to come out and play Hoptown basketball,” Wells said. “That is what got us 32 wins this year. We just want to keep on rolling.”

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