Lady Rocket stage strong comeback on road

Anna Boone was chosen player of the game

HARDINSBURG, Ky. – Crittenden County discovered once again that when the Lady Rockets get to the foul line, good things happen. In a tough road environment at Breckinridge County, CCHS overcame early turnovers and foul trouble to rally from an 11-point deficit and win 54-50 on Saturday.

Breckinridge, the preseason No. 1 team in Region 3,  opened with a blistering 21-point first quarter while Crittenden struggled to take care of the ball. Star guard Anna Boone, who scored CCHS’s first eight points, collected her third foul with 6:18 left in the second quarter and sat the remainder of the half. Still, the Rockets held steady, trailing just 29–24 at the break.

The momentum swung in the third when Boone returned briefly to bury a 3-pointer off a high screen, pulling CCHS within one. Moments later, the Rockets surged ahead 32-29 by attacking the rim. Boone’s fourth foul late in the period forced her back to the bench, and Crittenden trailed 38-34 entering the fourth.

But in the final quarter, Crittenden’s defensive pressure and free-throw shooting took over. Elliot Evans sparked the comeback with backcourt steals, one leading to a Boone 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 40-39. Another steal moments later set up Evans for a transition layup to tie it 43-43 with 4:40 left.

From there, the Rockets were nearly automatic at the stripe. Boone, Evans, and Jordyn Hodge combined to hit big free throws in the final two minutes, and a perfectly executed in-bounds play – Boone to Evans up the sideline to Bristyn Rushing for a wide-open layup – pushed the lead to 51-47 with :30 remaining.

Breckinridge hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds to go, but Hodge iced the win with two more at the line. Crittenden finished an impressive 20-of-26 at the stripe, the clear difference in a four-point game.

The Lady Rocket are now 2-1 on the season and Breckinridge is now 1-2, Breckinridge is a traditional powerhouse in the Third Region. The Rocket girls host McCracken County on Tuesday.

Crittenden County 10 24 34 54
Breckinridge County 21 29 38 50
CRITTENDEN – Boone 16, Evans 11, Hodge 10, Federico 5, Rushing 10, Holeman, Stewart 2, Berry. FG 15. 3-pointers 4 (Boone 4). FT 20-26.
BRECKINRIDGE - Greenwell 5, Moorman 6, Henning, Grimes 15, Radaszewai 12, Mitcham 9, Carey 3. FG 16. 3-pointers 5. FT 8-12. 

Rocket drop to 0-3 out of the chute

CLINTON, Ky. – After three games, Crittenden County is still looking for its first win since early 2024. The Rockets – on a grueling three-game road series this week – have come out of the chute 0-3 after falling 69-37 at Hickman County Saturday afternoon.

CCHS, which has struggled over the last three seasons, hasn’t found the winner’s circle over the past 39 games. The boys fell behind early at Hickman but stayed within striking distance until midway through the third period.

Without a single player in double figures, Brady Dayberry and Brayden Poindexter led the scoring with seven points apiece.

The road gets no less troublesome over the coming days as CCHS travels Monday to Hopkins Central and returns home Tuesday to face Union County.

Crittenden County 6 19 26 37
Hickman County 15 30 45 69
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 2, Porter, Bryant 4, Topp 4, Bumpus 4, Dayberry 7, Young 3, Martin 1, C.Poindexter 5, B.Poindexter 7. FG 11. 3-pointers 2 (Young, Topp). FT 13-19.
HICKMAN – Rosas 13, Grubbs 3, Byassee 2, Irons 28, Boaz 4, Spraggs 2, Ware 5, Grimmitt 2, Lu.Grimmitt 6, Polsgrove 1, Deweese 3. FG 29. 3-pointers 5. FT 6-11.

Rockets fall at Campbell's army base

Rocket Drake Young

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Crittenden County fell behind early and was never able to get its feet underneath the offense as Fort Campbell beat the Rockets 89-54 on the Army base Friday in a game that featured almost 50 foul whistles.

CCHS had trouble simply getting off shots from the outset and trailed by double digits early as the Falcons scored eight of their 26 first-quarter points at the foul line. CCHS was called for 25 fouls in the game and Fort Campbell 23, but the hosts dropped in 22 from the charity stripe compared to Crittenden’s 12.

Crittenden worked to get the ball to the basket and didn’t shoot many threes, making none for the game. Brady Dayberry led CCHS in scoring with 15. He was the only Rocket in double figures.

The Rockets are back on the road Saturday for a long trip to Hickman County in far western Kentucky. Hickman is 2-0 after wins over Trigg County and South Fulton. The Rockets are now 0-2.

Crittenden Co. 9 19 38 54
Fort Campbell 26 42 61 89
CRITTENDEN – Ellington, Porter 3, Bryant, Topp 6, Dayberry 15, Jones 1, Young 3, Hutchison, Bumpus 3, Martin 7, C.Poindexter 6, Murray 2, B.Poindexter 8, Counts, Collins. FG 21. 3-pointers none. FT 12-26.
FT CAMPBELL – Ferguson 14, Tow 12, Baker 3, Vannatta 21, Morton 8, Anthony 23, Tatum 4, Davis 2. FG 30. 3-pointers 7. FT 22-37.

Lady Marshals take Crittenden in battle of 2s

Anna Boone led CCHS with 17 points, but they
didn't come easy against the Marshals.

DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. – Crittenden County hung close early but foul trouble and Marshall County’s defensive pressure proved too much Thursday as the Hoopfest host Lady Marshals pulled away for a 59-45 win.

The matchup featured two preseason No. 2 teams – Marshall in Region 1 and Crittenden in Region 2 – and Marshall showed why it's a traditional west Kentucky powerhouse, jumping passing lanes, applying physical half-court pressure and knocking down timely 3-pointers. The Lady Marshals limited clean looks for Crittenden senior guard Anna Boone, who battled foul issues throughout and picked up her fourth late in the third quarter.

Fouls became a theme for the Lady Rockets. By halftime, four CCHS starters carried two fouls, forcing coach Shannon Hodge to reach into her bench and rarely allowing the starting five to share the floor. Crittenden was particularly limited at the post due to fouls. Marshall used that advantage to build a 39-25 lead by the end of the third period.

Still, Crittenden mounted a charge. A Jordyn Hodge 3-pointer and an Adri Berry baseline jumper trimmed the margin to 42-36 with 4:30 left, after Marshall had missed on consecutive trips down the floor. But a Marshall 3-pointer stopped the 5-0 run, and a pair of late turnovers stalled any hope of a comeback.

Boone led Crittenden with 17 points. Elliot Evans added 12 before fouling out, and Hodge finished with nine. The Lady Rockets hit five 3-pointers and were 14 of 19 at the line.

Marshall was paced by junior Kenzlee Terry’s 22 points and senior Eden Sandlin’s 14. The Lady Marshals made five 3-pointers and sealed the game at the stripe late as Crittenden fouled while pressing.

Crittenden County 12 19 25 45
Marshall County 12 23 39 55
CRITTENDEN - Boone 17, Evans 12, Hodge 9, Federico 1, Stewart 2, Berry 4, Rushing, Holeman, Champion. FG 13. 3-pointers 5 (Evans 3, Hodge 2). FT 14-19.
MARSHALL – Sandlin 14, Terry 22, Wall 7, Darnell 3, Teague 1, Reed 2, Nobles 6. FG 19. 3-pointers 5 (Sandlin 2, Terry 2, Darnell). FT 12-18.

Rockets fall to non-KHSAA team at Hoopfest

Roane Topp scored 10 points for CCHS.

DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. – Crittenden County fell 66-44 Tuesday to New Covenant Christian Academy, a non-KHSAA opponent, after the Lions broke open a close first half with a dominant third quarter in the opening game of the Marshall County Hoopfest.

The Rockets led at times early and trailed only 26-23 at the half, with NCCA hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take the lead. But the Lions took control after the break, surging to a 53-33 advantage by the end of the third and continuing to pull away in the fourth.

Drake Young led Crittenden with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Roane Topp added 10, Emmitt Ellington 8 and Logan Martin 5. The Rockets finished with seven made threes and shot 1-for-2 at the line.

Finley Cunningham paced NCCA with 20 points, while Crider Cunningham added 15. The Cunninghams are children of Crittenden County graduate Katie (Stout) Cunningham.

Crittenden County is now 0-1 to start the season.

Crittenden County 14 23 33 44
Covenant Christian 11 26 53 66
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 8, Porter, Bryant, Topp 10, Dayberry 1, Jones, Young 16, Martin 5, C.Poindexter, B.Poindexter 4, Counts. FG 18. 3-pointers 7 (Ellington 2, Young 4, Martin). FT 1-2.
NCCA – Crider Cunningham 15, Jackson 8, Stranger 3, Vaughn 6, Finley Cunningham 20, Thomas, Smith 12, Wheat. FG 26. 3-pointers 8 (C.Cunningham 4, F.Cunningham 3, Smith). FT 6-6.

THE SHOW | Coach Hodge discusses high expectations

Join Crittenden County basketball coaches Shannon Hodge and Kenny Jackson each week for the Rocket Basketball Coach’s Show — hosted by former Rocket Trace Derrington and proudly supported by our local business sponsors. Today's Show features 33-year girls' coach Shannon Hodge discussing high expectations for this season.

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Lady Rockets open with rhythmic 30-point win

Lady Rocket Bristyn Rushing (25) works to win
the ball during Tuesday's opening game.

MARION, Ky. – A well-tempered, rhythmic offense came out of the chute Monday night with remarkably balanced scoring and good ball movement to begin the season with a 30-point victory over an improved Caldwell County girls’ squad.

Crittenden more than doubled the Lady Tigers’ scoring in the opening period, then rolled to a 69-39 victory as a warmup for what the Lady Rockets will face ahead. Over the coming week, Crittenden will run the gamut – playing two of the top three teams in the First Region and Breckinridge County, a Third Region perennial power.

Crittenden will need to keep clicking offensively facing those stalwarts. Against Caldwell, the Rocket girls dropped seven threes as sophomore Jordyn Hodge led the scoring with 17. Seniors Anna Boone and Elliot Evans added 12 and 10, respectively, and CCHS got 17 points from the pivot between Bristyn Rushing and Morgan Stewart. Senior forward Andrea Federico added nine.

Caldwell County 11 23 30 39
Crittenden County 23 38 52 69
CALDWELL – Clark 9, Thomas 8, Thompson 8, Whitaker 5, Shearer, McCoy 8, Hawkins 1. 3-pointers 1 (Thomas). FT 12-21.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 12, Evans 10, Hodge 17, Federico 9, Rushing 8, Holeman, Stewart 9, Berry 2, Champion 2, Grau, Rich, Kemmer. 3-pointers 7 (Boone 2, Evans 2, Hodge 2, Federico). FT 8-10.