Teams drop season openers to Union

Boys Stats

Union 70, Crittenden

46

Crittenden 11 27 41 46

Union 17 32 53 70

Crittenden - Clark, Dyl., 7, Oliver 10, Pluskota 12, Porter 9, Nielsen 7, Highfil 1, Pierce, Clark, Dev., Scott, Belt, Copeland, Frazer. FG. 15. 3-pointers 1 (Porter). FT. 13-28. Fouls 20.

Union - Rister 22, Curry 18, Hall 10, Brown 12, Higginson 6, Cruse 2, Price, Foster, Alvey, McCormick, Moore. FG. 19. 3-

pointers 8 (Rister 5, Hall 2, Brown). FT. 8-20. Fouls 25.

Girls stats

Union 45, Crittenden 41

Crittenden 13 24 29 41

Union 10 21 30 45

Crittenden - Hodge 12, Tabor 8, Courtney 8, Brantley 6, Johnson 5, Graham 2, Franklin. FG. 11. 3-point

ers 1 (Tabor). FT. 16-21. Fouls 18.

Union - Dayberry, 20, Fowler 11, Hodge 10, Houston 2, Davis, P. 2, Little, Buchanan, Davis, C. FG. 11. 3-pointers 6 (Dayberry 4, Hodge 2). FT. 5-13. Fouls 19.

Boys lose despite tying game up in 3rd period

BY CHRIS HARDESTY

PRESS SPORTS WRITER

After hanging tough for the first half, the Rockets could not muster enough to make new Rocket coach Chad Hayes’ debut a winning one falling 70-46 at Union County Tuesday night.

The Braves’ pressure defense gave the visitors trouble the entire way and helped force many of their 28 turnovers.

But despite making way too many turnovers in the first quarter, the Rockets only trailed 17-11 after the opening eight minutes of action.

Missed layups, which displeased Hayes during preseason scrimmages, continue

d to be a problem as they missed three in the first quarter.

Union seemed ready to possibly take control of the game with about five minutes remaining in the first half. They extended their lead to 22-11 before senior forward Joey Pluskota connected for an old-fashioned three pointer to keep his team in contention.

The visitors continued to slice into the deficit even further as Casey Oliver made a short jumper to cut it to 26-25. The Rockets finally knotted the score at 36-all in the third

period on a layup from senior forward Patrick Nielsen and it appe

ared like they had new life.

But behind more pressure defense which led to more easy points off turnovers, the hosts went on a 17-5 run the remainder of the third quarter to take a 53-41 lead into the final frame.

Although playing good defense, Union did not exactly take good care of the ball either committing 22 turnovers of their own.

Unfortunately, Crittenden did not convert nearly enough of them into points to score an upset win in Hayes’ debut.

Giving up 19 offensive rebounds and missing 17 shots from 10 feet and in were also huge problems in the season opening loss.

The Braves had a very balanced scoring attack, placing four players in double figures.

Meanwhile, Pluskota led his team with 12 points and eight rebounds while Oliver had 10 points.

Senior forward Dylan Clark also had a solid effort scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds in the setback.

Obviously wishing he could have experienced a victory in his debut as the Rocket coach, Hayes realizes it is a process of rebuilding that is going to take time.

“We’re having to learn a brand new system,” he said.

After knotting the contest at 36-all in the third quarter, he did not believe his team took the right approach from that point.

“We weathered all the storms, but then we got complacent,” said the new coach.

The three glaring things which stood out to him in the setback was the 17 mis

sed shots from 10 feet and in, 19 offensive rebounds they allowed Union and 28 turnovers.

He was also very displeased with his team’s 13-of-28 showing at the free throw line, many of those misses coming when the game was still close.

Lady Rockets’ errors contribute to 45-41 lose

Surrendering 17 offensive rebounds and committing 19 turnovers led to the de

mise of the Lady Rockets Tuesday night at Morganfield as they dropped a 45-41 decision to host Union County.

It didn’t take long for the lack of offensive rebounding to rear its ugly head as Crittenden gave up two just :50 ticks into the game.

But behind the steady play of guards Jessi Hodge and

Hannah Brantley, the visitors still managed to claim a 13-10 lead after a seesaw first quarter.

But in a game which neither team led by more than eight points, the Lady Rockets did not have a defensive answer for Bravette forward Madison Dayberry. She poured in four three-pointers and scored 20 points to help lead her team to victory.

Long-range shooting was another telling difference in the outcome. Both te

ams made 11 two-point field goals and the Lady Rockets held a huge advantage at the free throw liner going 16-of-21.

But despite Union going a terrible 5-for-13 at the free throw line, they co

nnected for six trifectas compared to only one for the visitors.

Trailing 42-34 with 3:19 left to play, the Lady Rockets managed to stay in the contest by connecting on 10 fourth quarter free throws to trim the deficit to 43-40.

But a lack of rebounding late helped seal their fate as the Bravettes got two rebounds off of missed free throws to hold on for a close win.

The 19 turnovers were also a huge problem as five players had at least two in the regular season opener.

Hodge led her team with 12 points and also dished out six assists in the game.

Even with the poor rebounding and high number of miscues, Lady Rocket coach Shannon Hodge felt like her team should have won the ballgame since they held the Bravettes to only 45 points.

“If you would have told me we would have just scored 41 points, I would not have believed you,” she said after the game.

The Lady Rocket skipper hopes her team realizes that proper execution and taking care of fundamentals can be the difference between winning and losing.

“I think we have to take it a little more personal when we don’t rebound and defend well,” she said.

The Lady Rockets host Fifth District foe Trigg County tomorrow night in a rematch of last year’s Fifth District championship game.

She hopes her team remembers that disappointing 51-46 overtime loss and uses it for a bit of motivation in the home opener.

“It becomes a pride thing. I feel like we’ll get ourselves going Friday night,” Hodge said.