MEDORA

The fifth-highest scoring team in Class A, putting up 58.37 points per contest, upped its offensive average against a Jackson County rival and potential sectional foe.

Crothersville’s girls basketball team eviscerated Medora, leading for all but 30 seconds, in an 81-22 win Monday. That marked a season-high point total.

The Tigers’ Katrina Christian proved unstoppable in the first 16 minutes of play, scoring 21 points and adding seven rebounds.

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Crothersville (14-6) opened the game on a 20-2 run behind nine points by Christian, six by Lacey Hall and five from Piper Hensley.

Following a basket by the Hornets’ Lillie Hatfield, Christian went on a self-made 9-0 run with three baskets from close range and a 3-pointer.

Kailen Flynn scored for the Hornets (2-12) right before the buzzer, but the Hornets trailed the Tigers 29-6 after one quarter.

Christian accounted for 18 of the Tigers’ points after eight minutes of play.

Flynn hit a pair of free throws to open the second quarter, but the Tigers answered with a 6-0 run that was halted by an and-one conversion by Kelsey Turner by the 5:47 mark.

Hatfield made a free throw to conclude the Hornets’ scoring in the second quarter before the Tigers scored eight straight to lead 48-12 at intermission.

The Hornets turned the ball over 17 times to the Tigers’ four first-half giveaways.

“We were getting a lot of movement out of our offense,” Tigers coach Kevin Hensley said. “We knew they were going to stick to a zone, so we tried to get the ball around.”

Following an and-one by Flynn at 6:50 in the third quarter, the Tigers scored strung together eight points without giving up a basket.

A buzzer-beating mid-range jump shot by Maddie Riley gave the Tigers a 63-17 advantage after 24 minutes.

Emptying their bench with junior varsity players, the Tigers continued to pile on the points.

Crothersville scored nine points while holding Medodra scoreless to open the fourth quarter, leading 74-17 with 3:22 left.

The Tigers cruised to the win after exchanging a pair of baskets.

“I wasn’t measuring what (Crothersville was) going to score offensively. We knew they were going to be tough,” Hornets coach Brad McCammon said. “I was measuring what we can do offensively and fundamentally. We’ve been trying to get kids to play more aggressively, block out and get some more ball movement. I thought at times, we did that decently.”

Eleven Crothersville players scored on the evening, led by 23 points from Christian. Piper Hensley added 12, while Riley and Hall each totaled 10.

“It’s very good for us to play this many kids,” Hensley said. “Come sectional time, you don’t know what is going to happen in those games. You can lose kids to injury or foul trouble. For the other girls, especially the freshmen, to step in tonight, it’s great for them to get some experience and help out.”

Flynn topped the Hornets’ scoring with 11 points, and Turner had eight.

On the boards, the Tigers outrebounded the Hornets 41-22.

Medora turned the ball over 32 times, while Crothersville had nine turnovers.

“I thought our effort was great for four quarters,” McCammon said. “I told them we wouldn’t play a much tougher team than Crothersville on our schedule. It’s tough to get beat by that score, but we were still trying to execute. I would take this group of kids anywhere. They’re a great group. Last time we played, I was frustrated with the effort. Tonight, we played with that effort against a much better team.”

Crothersville has won four in a row, while Medora has dropped three consecutive games.