In a District 6 showdown defined by discipline and defensive execution, Henderson County asserted its dominance over Union County, pulling away for a 49–34 win Friday night.
The victory marked Henderson’s 11th straight win over the Braves, a streak dating back to February 2022. The win pushed the Colonels to 14–4 on the season, while Union County entered the night with a matching 13-win resume. This set the stage for what many expected to be a tight game.
Union County played the game mostly in a 2-1-2 zone, daring Henderson to shoot from the perimeter. The Colonels obliged early… and struggled.
HCHS missed its first eight three-point attempts, finishing the first half without a make from deep. While Union’s zone disrupted offensive rhythm, it failed to keep Henderson off the glass, a key factor in the game.
“It’s really only the second time we’ve seen nothing but zone all season,” Henderson County head coach Tyler Smithhart said. “That was definitely the most athletic zone that we’ve seen. But, offensive rebounds were key for us.”
Despite the cold shooting, Henderson leaned on defense from the opening tip. Union’s zone failed to capitalize on the home team’s misses, as the Colonels repeatedly secured second chances.
Still, points were scarce early on. While the offense struggled to find consistency, Smithhart credited his team’s defensive effort for keeping control of the game.
“Offensively, we were pretty bad; it was not our best performance,” Smithhart said. “Defensively, we were outstanding. We just made everything difficult.”
The first quarter was uneventful offensively, with both teams locked at 4–4 until the Braves’ Daishawn Curry buried a three-pointer in the final seconds. The Braves clung to a slim edge in what was a slugfest.
The second quarter followed a similar script. Turnovers continued to plague Henderson early, but senior Travis Little injected energy on both ends. As the missed threes piled up, Little drove through the zone for scores and kept the Colonels afloat with defense and rebounding.
“We knocked down some mid-range jumpers, got ourselves some confidence, and we started moving the ball better once we saw it go through the net a few times,” Smithhart said.
That adjustment paid off. Xavion Johnson scored on an offensive rebound for his first points of the night, while Amare Stewart and Zayden Martin added interior buckets. A late pull-up jumper from Johnson beat the buzzer, sending Henderson into halftime with an 18–12 lead, despite the perimeter struggles.
UCHS opened the second half with a basket from Mills, but the Colonels quickly responded. Martin connected on a floater, then Little delivered a pivotal and-one finish that got the home crowd going. Little followed with a strong drive and pull-up jumper, showcasing a strong mid-range game that Union’s zone struggled to contain.
“I thought I was able to penetrate the zone and hit the mid-range or get to the rim,” Little said. “Our coaches told us to start driving into gaps, and that went well for us.”
Curry continued to carry the Braves offensively, knocking down deep threes and scoring at the rim. Still, Henderson entered the fourth quarter ahead 34–26, fueled largely by Little’s best performance of the season.
The fourth quarter saw the Colonels use some game management to extend the lead. Smithhart slowed the pace, often using more than 30 seconds per possession, while defensive pressure forced several Union turnovers.
Little controlled the middle of the floor, hitting a turnaround jumper and finding teammates when help collapsed. Martin finished another long possession with an and-one opportunity, and Johnson’s pull-up jumper triggered the student section’s “start the buses” chant.
“We knew we were going to have to come out and set the bar high,” Little said. “It can be anyone’s game if we didn’t.”
Union County never found an answer late. Sophomore MJ Patterson, who entered averaging eight points per game, was held scoreless until the final minute. Sophomore Gavyn Black chipped in nine points, but Curry’s 13 were not enough to overcome Henderson’s defense.
The performance continued a strong defensive stretch for the Colonels, who have now held three of their last five opponents to their lowest scoring output of the season, including Union County on Friday night.
“Tonight’s going to wake us up and give us some things to learn from,” Smithhart said. “I’m glad we get to learn and grow from a win rather than a loss.”
The win further cements Henderson’s grip on District 6, which features three teams ranked in the top four of the early Second Region RPI ratings. Henderson County currently sits at the top.
The Colonels return to action Tuesday night at Evansville Reitz.
BOX SCORE
Henderson County (14-4) 49
Little 16, X. Johnson 11, Martin 10, Stewart 4, Taylor 4, Williams 2, Woolfork 2
Union County (13-7) 34
Curry 13, Black 9, Wilson 4, C. Johnson 4, Mills 2, Patterson 2
