CROTHERSVILLE
Austin went on an 8-0 run late in the game to turn a one-point deficit into a 57-52 win at Crothersville Tuesday night.
The Tigers held a 50-49 lead following two free throws by Katrina Christian with 3:54 remaining.
The Eagles (11-8) scored eight straight points with Kami Owens scoring the first six, and two free throws by Addison Brasher put the Eagles on top 57-50 with 11.5 remaining.
Christian scored a layup at the buzzer.
“I thought it was a pretty good effort,” Tigers coach Kevin Hensley said. “We got in some foul trouble early and that kind of hurt us and took away from our offense that we usually have.
“Once we settled down and got into our offense and got everybody back to where they weren’t in foul trouble anymore that helped a bunch late in the game. We just had a couple mistakes late in the game.”
The Tigers got off to a slow start, trailing 8-0, before they rallied to pull even at 16-16 at the end of the first period.
The Tigers missed their first two shots from the floor, and had four turnovers to fall behind 8-0.
Austin was on top 16-9 when Christian hit a 3-pointer, Lacey Hall made a lay-up and Christian made two free throws to tie the game at the end of the period.
The Tigers held a 20-19 lead following a rebound basket by Nikki Hickman before the Eagles went on a 9-0 run to lead 28-20 and remained in front 25-33 at the half.
The Eagles started out hot at the start of the third period with a basket by Owens putting the visitors on top 41-31 with 4:30 on the clock.
The Eagles were on top 43-33 when Piper Hensley hit a 30pointer, Lacey Hall made a layup, and Hensley added another trey to close the difference to 43-41 at the end of the period.
Another three by Hensley at the start of the fourth period put the Tigers on top 44-43, and the score remained close the next five minutes.
Christian topped the Tigers with 15 points. She pushed her career total to 1,508 and becomes just the fourth girls from Jackson County to top 1,500 points.
“I was proud of Makayla Helt,” coach Hensley said. “She’s a junior varsity player and she came in there and did her job. She put good pressure on the ball. That’s what we’re trying to do, we’re to keep this going, and this right here will help us in the sectional, this kind of atmosphere.
Piper Hensley scored 12 and Hall had 10 for the Tigers (14-7).
Owens topped the Eagles with 22 and Brasher scored 15.