\A standout player at Allen County High School and Western Kentucky University, Weaver went on to a long career in coaching and school administration across Kentucky. He was inducted into multiple athletic halls of fame.
His full obituary will appear in the July 24, 2025 edition of The Crittenden Press.
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| Three-on-one Bristyn Rushing fights for a rebound |
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Like a dog straining against the end of its chain, Crittenden County had little fight left by the third quarter of Saturday’s Second Region championship game at Hopkinsville.
The momentum had shifted long before Lady Rocket junior Anna Boone left the game temporarily with an ankle injury six minutes into the second half. By then, Crittenden’s leading scorer for the past two seasons had accounted for more than half of her team’s 24 points. But it wasn’t nearly enough, as Henderson County – a school with four times the enrollment of Crittenden’s 429 – showed no mercy in a dominant 66-31 victory.
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| Andrea Federico shooting |
In dynastic fashion, the Lady Colonels have now captured 19 of the last 21 regional crowns. Familiarity with the hardware didn’t appear to have changed their intensity from the jump or when they hoisted the trophy and cut down the nets.
Minutes after tweaking her ankle, Boone was back on the floor for a ceremonial last lap, but by then her Lady Rockets had already fallen 25 points behind—five more than when she first exited. Shortly after, both coaches emptied their benches, a clear sign that the competitive portion of the game was over.
Lady Rocket coach Shannon Hodge had exhausted every option by then. It began slipping away in the second half not before. Henderson County had reeled off runs that came in waves. What started as a 12-12 tie late in the first period quickly unraveled with a 7-0 Henderson scoring run, followed by an 8-0 spurt.
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| Jordyn Hodge on defense |
The Lady Colonels used their defensive quickness to cut off driving lanes, contest every Crittenden County shot and neutralize the Lady Rockets' perimeter game. With no breathing room and little chance to close the gap, Crittenden’s championship hopes faded long before the final buzzer.
“We will be back next year,” said junior Elliot Evans, one of three Lady Rockets named to the all-region team. “Four of our five starters are juniors. We’re going to work harder over the summer and be right back here next year. We want to go to Rupp.”
After winning their seventh straight regional title, Henderson County (27-5) will play First Region champion Marshall County in the opening round of the Sweet Sixteen next week at Rupp Arena. Crittenden’s season ends with a 23-8 record. It has now won more than 20 games in five seasons, and this year’s starters have been part of three of those. They won 19 last year. Had it not been for February snow-outs, this year’s Lady Rockets would have challenged the program’s winningest season of 2016 (25-8).
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| Elliot Evans on defense |
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| Anna Boone off the dribble |
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – On a stage that should’ve, could’ve, would’ve belonged to Christian County, Lady Rocket junior Anna Boone and her posse scorched the Lady Colonels 63-49 in Friday’s Second Region semifinal at Lyle Dunbar Gym in Hopkinsville.
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| Anna Boone scored 19 of her 24 in the 1st half. |
Crittenden, which has won a record 10 All A Classic regional crowns, has won only one KHSAA regional title in history. That was in 2011. The Lady Rockets will on Saturday play in their fourth regional championship in school history. The first was in 1978.
Boone dominated the first half, displaying wizardry off the bounce and from downtown. She was unstoppable, stymieing the homesteading Lady Colonels, who are typically as territorial as a pit bull on their own floor.
“I knew I had to get in there and score my points,” said Boone, who has averaged just under 15 points per game this season and scored 24 against Christian. “Once we started scoring, our defense just clicked.”
While Boone was lighting it up, the rims were mighty unforgiving to Christian County, which misfired like an AK-47 with a 30-round clip full of blanks – shot after shot, but none hitting the target. The Lady Colonels collected rebound after rebound, but seldom found the net.
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| Center Bristyn Rushing and Coach Shannon Hodge. |
Even when Crittenden’s offense cooled slightly in the third period, Christian kept losing ground while its offense was as unsuccessful as a lottery ticket. The Lady Rockets convincingly frustrated their hosts, forcing rushed shots, off-balance prayers, and frequent misses around the basket on attempts the Lady Colonels typically make.
Although Crittenden stuck to a six-player rotation before unloading the bench late, it was clear that Coach Shannon Hodge’s team had met the physical challenge she posed to them heading into the contest against a team known for its ruggedness.
“We knew it was going to be a war inside for rebounds,” Hodge said. “We knew that if we could just challenge their shots, then they wouldn’t be as comfortable on those first shots. They got a lot of offensive rebounds, but we got enough, especially early, to keep them from scoring a lot of points in that first half.”
Crittenden (23-7), ranked No. 2 in the region’s power rankings, will tip off at 6 p.m. Saturday against Henderson County (26-5), the top-ranked team in the region.
“They have two good post players, so we have to keep the ball from going into them and keep them off the boards,” Boone said of Henderson. “And they have really quick guards, so we have to keep a hand in their face.”
Henderson, a six-time defending Second Region champion, beat Hopkins Central 60-37 in Friday’s other semifinal game. Crittenden lost by 10 to Henderson in a regular-season matchup in February at Rocket Arena.
Crittenden County 19 37 57 63
Christian County 11 19 31 49
CRITTENDEN – Boone 24, Evans 2, Hodge 12, Federico 9, Rushing 12, Stewart 4, Holeman, Berry, Champion, Hunt. 3-pointers 4 (Boone 3, Hodge). FT 16-26.
CHRISTIAN – Northington 4, Bagwell 14, Day 10, Hobson 4, McGee 3, Daniel 9, Bell 2, Bradley 3. 3-pointers 2 (Daniel, Bagwell). FT 11-21.
🏀 Game Night Alert! The Crittenden County Lady Rockets are just one step away from returning to the Girls’ Region 2 Basketball Tournament finals for the second time in three years. They face off against the Christian County Lady Colonels tonight at Lyle Dunbar Gym in Hopkinsville.
🔄 Road to the Semifinals
Crittenden County secured their spot with a 46-39 victory over Union County on Tuesday.
Christian County advanced with a 70-51 win against Madisonville-North Hopkins.
🏆 Team Breakdown
Lady Rockets (22-7) ✨ 3-game winning streak | District 5 champions
Lady Colonels (18-9) ✨ 8 wins in last 9 games | District 8 champions
💪 Key Matchup: The teams met earlier this season, with Christian County narrowly winning 56-49. Lady Rocket head coach Shannon Hodge highlights rebounding and physical play as crucial elements for success tonight.
🏅 History at Stake
Crittenden County was last in the regional title game in 2023 when they finished runner-up to Henderson County (71-53). Crittenden won the region in 2011, its only championship.
Christian County is eyeing its first finals berth since 2011, when they fell to Crittenden County (53-49).
⏰ Tipoff at 7:45 p.m. | 🎧 F&M Bank Pregame Show at 7:30 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm
📺 Can’t make it to the game? Watch it live on NFHS Network!
🔥 Bonus Action: The first semifinal at 6 p.m. features defending champion Henderson County battling Hopkins County Central.
