Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Trigg holds off late Rocket New Year's Eve rally

Trigg County took a one-game lead in the Fifth District race by knocking off the Rockets 67-57 on New Year's Eve at Marion. The game was originally to have been the season opener for both clubs, but it was snowed out in early December.

Payton Croft's Wildcats were plenty quick and took a commanding 17-point lead into the fourth period, but the Rockets chipped away at the end and closed to within six with a minute to go on a steal and layup by Travis Gilbert. However, Trigg made its foul shots down the stretch to fend off the late rally.

Rocket coach Denis Hodge said his team was a bit befuddled early by Trigg's trapping press. Once, Crittenden began attacking the Wildcat defenses, it opened up more offensive opportunities, the coach said.

Hodge described guard Landon Young's performance as a "breakout game."

Young scored 15, including six the last period, to lead Crittenden County while bigman Tae Day had 23 for Trigg County. Devin Belt scored 10 for the Rockets and played somewhat sparingly at the end because of foul trouble and some matchup issues against Trigg's quick lineup. Trigg had three more players in double figures, Corbin Estes had 13 and Demaria Nance and Deebo Mayes got 11 apiece.

Both teams came into the game with 2-0 records in district play. The Rockets host the post-season Fifth Disttrict Tournament this year.


Rockets host Trigg County tonight in 5th showdown

Crittenden County's boys will host Payton Croft's Trigg County Wildcats tonight at Rocket Arena for a New Year's Eve showdown between the Fifth District's top two teams. Both come into the matchup with 2-0 league records. The winner will have a decided advantage as the second half of the regular-season Fifth District round robin begins next week.

Payton Croft, the son of former Rocket coach Jimmy Croft, is Trigg's first-year skipper. Croft played five years at Crittenden and is among the school's all-time leading scorers.

Tipoff is at 6 p.m., for the varsity matchup. There will be a JV game starting at 4.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Lady Rockets win second straight at ESPN Center

Crittenden County wins second straight game at ESPN Center in Orlando, beating Fairport Harbor (OH) 40-20 behind team MVP Chelsea Oliver's 17 points. Stay tuned for more details and see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for more coverage.


Also, tune into our You Tube Channel for a clip of Coach Shannon Hodge and Oliver discussing today's win:






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV3c4sZx75I&feature=share&list=UUpECRvQ5ziQN1uGojxlO3bg

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Lady Rockets get season's first win at ESPN Center

Lady Rockets (in blue from left) Maggie Collins, Amanda
Lynch and Meredith Evans position for a rebound in
Saturday's game against Hammonton, NJ.
ORLANDO,Fla. – Crittenden County (1-7) picked up its first win of the season Saturday, beating Hammonton (NJ) 45-31 at the ESPN World Wide Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

The Lady Rockets, who are 1-1 in the KSA Holiday Tournament, get Sunday off then play Fairport Harbor (OH) on Monday.

Junior Chelsea Oliver led Crittenden with a double-double, scoring 16 and getting 10 rebounds. Freshman Cassidy Moss added 14 points. 

The Lady Rocket press helped spur a big first-half lead as Hammonton (1-2) turned the ball over 11 times before the break. 

Oliver scored half of her team's first dozen points en route to an early 12-5 lead. Crittenden never trailed in the game.

The Lady Rockets finished the contest with its starting point guard and center – Mallory McDowell and Maggie Collins, respectively – on the bench due to illness. Both are expected to play on Monday.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Lady Rockets at ESPN World Wide Sports Complex, Orlanda, Fla.

Rockets lose again by two points; Owen nets 24

Aaron Owen (2) works the perimeter during a game earlier this season.
Despite 24 points from senior guard Aaron Owen, Crittenden County lost its second straight game by two points at the McLean County Holiday Tournament. This time, Hopkins Central nipped the Rockets 51-49.

Owen had four 3-pointers in the game.

The game was close the entire way and Crittenden led by one point at the half.

Crittenden will play Mayfield at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at Owensboro Apollo, which is hosting the games because of damage to the McLean gym.

Lady Rockets drop opener in Florida

Cassidy Moss (one of two Lady Rockets celebrating a 15th
birthday today in Florida) guards a Mt. Dora player. Her cousin
Kiana Nesbitt shares the same birthday.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Although they never led, the Lady Rockets were close the entire way and within 2 points in the final two minutes, but couldn't overcome poor shooting and rebounding, losing 44-35 to Mt. Dora Bible High School at the ESPN World Wide Sports Complex.

Mt. Dora Bible (12-4) is a private school located about 30 miles north of Orlando, where Crittenden County is playing the KSA Holiday Basketball Tournament. 

The Lady Rockets had a late flight on Thursday, getting into Orlando and into their hotel rooms after 1 a.m., then suiting up for a couple of early-morning games. The JV team played at 8 a.m., and lost by 30 to a team from Ohio. The varsity squad tipped off at 9 a.m. (EST), just seven hours after the team arrived in Florida.

Crittenden's girls shot just 28 percent from the floor and its offensive rebounding was very poor. Still, the Lady Rockets drew within two points on a Chelsea Oliver layup with just under two minutes to go. Mt. Dora's guard popped a 3-pointer after the exchange and Crittenden never recovered.

There were only three fouls whistled in the first half, but Mt. Dora's Lady Bulldogs did get to the line several times late as Crittenden tried to catch up in the closing minute.

Oliver started slowly from the field, making just one of her first seven shots, but she bounced back to finish with a team-high 16 points.



Rockets lose opener, play Storm next


Crittenden County's boys didn't do well at the foul line in the closing minutes Thursday in the opening round of the McLean County Holiday Tournament, which is being played in Owensboro. The boys lost 67-65 to Allen County.

The games were moved to Owensboro Apollo because McLean County's gymnasium was damaged during a wind storm earlier in the week.

Devin Belt led Crittenden with 15 points and Noah Dickerson scored a career-high 13.

The Rockets play at 1 p.m., today against Hopkins Central at Apollo High School.


Monday, December 23, 2013

Holiday tournament at McLean moved

UPDATE: Games moved to Owensboro Apollo.

Due to damage at the McLean County gym from last weekend's storm, the holiday tournament in which Crittenden County's  boys will be participating, has been moved to the nearby McLean County Middle School gymnasium. The middle school is right past the high school on Ky. 136.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Rockets beat Livingston in overtime


Devin Belt (30) blocks the lane against against
Livingston's Austin Woodward (4).



PODCAST - Coach Denis Hodge: Listen: Click Here

Senior Devin Belt scored 21 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and basically took the game on his big shoulders in overtime as the Rockets beat Livingston Central 50-48 on Dec. 20 at Rocket Arena.

Belt was perfect from the floor, going 3-for-3 and scoring all of the Rocket's baskets in OT. Sophomore Dylan Hicks and junior Landon Young combined for three fouls shots in the extra period.

The Lady Rockets lost their game 52-36 to Livingston Central. Crittenden's girls remain winless at 0-6.

Rockets vs. Livingston box score

Game Box Score

Basketball - Game Box Score
Crittenden Rockets vs. Livingston
Date: 12/20/2013   Time: 19:23   Site: Unknown   Attendance:


Visitors: Livingston
##NamePFG 3 PtFTPTSORBDRBTRPFASTTOBSSTDAMIN
4* Woodward, Austin 1/3 0/0 11/19 13 1 7 8 4 0 3 0 1 0 33:26
10Wright, Austin 1/4 0/0 4/6 6 0 4 4 0 0 3 0 0 0 27:30
12* Sloma, Macie 0/1 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 17:28
20* Gilbert, Dalton 1/4 0/0 0/1 2 1 0 1 3 2 3 0 2 0 34:36
25* Ramage, Colton 5/14 1/5 7/12 18 1 3 4 4 1 3 0 1 0 35:53
40Thomason, Cameron 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 6:18
50* Miller, Jordan 3/8 0/0 3/10 9 3 9 12 5 0 1 0 0 0 24:12
Team2461
Totals11/341/525/48488293724315040
Total FG1st Half4/1625.0% 2nd Half7/1838.9% Game11/3432.4%
3 PT FG1st Half0/10.00% 2nd Half1/425.0% Game1/520.0%
Free Throws1st Half6/1833.3% 2nd Half19/3063.3% Game25/4852.1%

Home: Crittenden Rockets
##NamePFG 3 PtFTPTSORBDRBTRPFASTTOBSSTDAMIN
2* Owen 5/17 1/7 4/7 15 1 4 5 5 1 2 0 1 0 28:31
3* Young 0/4 0/3 2/6 2 2 1 3 4 1 3 0 1 0 21:45
4Dickerson 0/1 0/0 0/0 0 0 4 4 5 1 1 1 0 0 17:41
5Faith 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
11Hicks 0/2 0/2 2/2 2 0 1 1 3 0 4 0 2 0 13:00
14* Gilbert 0/4 0/3 0/0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 25:57
15Champion 2/2 1/1 0/0 5 1 4 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 17:00
20Tinsley 1/2 0/0 0/0 2 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 14:31
23Colby Watson 0/4 0/1 0/0 0 1 1 2 2 0 2 1 0 0 11:00
24* Dakota Watson 1/2 0/0 1/3 3 1 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 8:32
25Myers 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0:04
30* Belt 9/17 0/2 3/7 21 4 11 15 4 0 0 0 2 0 21:37
31Driver 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
32Hatfield 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
Team2131
Totals18/552/1912/255014314535514260
Total FG1st Half5/2420.8% 2nd Half13/3141.9% Game18/5532.7%
3 PT FG1st Half1/812.5% 2nd Half1/119.09% Game2/1910.5%
Free Throws1st Half3/933.3% 2nd Half9/1656.3% Game12/2548.0%


Liv Cri Liv Cri Liv Cri
Free Throw Pts2512 3Pt Points36 Pts/Possession0.620.60
Pts off Turnovers97 2nd Chance Points012 Pts off Bench69
Total Rebounds3745 Team Rebounds63 Dead Ball Reb77
Off Rebound %20.532.6 Def Rebound %67.479.5 Total Rebound %45.154.9
Technical FoulsLiv G Dalton
Cri Young
OfficialsUnknown


Qtr 1Qtr 2Qtr 3Qtr 4 OT 1OT 2OT 3OT 4Total
Livingston 11 3 10 16 8 0 0 048
Crittenden Rockets 5 9 15 11 10 0 0 050
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Union floor dedicated to Marion native

Union County's athletic department held a special dedication ceremony during the Union vs. Crittenden games earlier this week at Morganfield.

Union County has dedicated its gymnasium floor to the memory of Gerald "Hoopy" Tabor, a longtime coach at Union County.

Tabor is originally from Marion and is a member of the Marion-Crittenden County Athletic Hall of Fame, the Union County Athletic Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. His girls' team won a state championship for Union County.

The Union County student body sold T-shirts to commemorate the event and the proceeds will help UCHS students travel to the Philippines on a mission trip.

Pictured are Tabor's daughters Holly and Tanya during the dedication ceremony.

Tabor died earlier this year.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Rockets beat Dawson, girls still winless

Crittenden County's boys beat Dawson Springs (perhaps the worst team in the region) Tuesday night on the road to improve to 2-3. The Rockets are 1-0 in district play and face Livingston Central at Marion Friday night. A win there would set up a big showdown on New Year's Eve against Payton Croft's Trigg County Wildcats. The Wildcats are 5-0 and 2-0 in district play.

Meanwhile, the Lady Rockets remain winless after five games, but were close at halftime Tuesday at previously winless Hopkinsville. The Lady Rockets got 22 points from Chelsea Oliver at Hoptown. The Lady Rockets are 0-2 in district play at host Livingston Central Friday.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Rockets break 14-game skid vs. Lyon County

Rocket guard Dylan Hicks defends the ball while teammates
Devin Belt (30) and Taylor Champion guard the baseline.
Crittenden County had lost 14 straight times to Lyon County dating back to 2008, but Friday night they stopped the skid, knocking off the Lyons 59-53 at Eddyville.

Devin Belt scored 14 and Landon Young 11 as Crittenden won a game that was close the whole way. The Rockets biggest lead was 8 points in the first half but Lyon was within two twice down the stretch.

Crittenden had last topped the Lyons on Jan. 18, 2008, beating them by one point at Marion when Rob Towery was head coach of the Rockets.

The Lady Rockets lost 66-40 to the Lyons. Chelsea Oliver led the way for CCHS with 15 points.

Crittenden's boys play Webster County Saturday night at the Messenger Tipoff Classic and the girls play at University Heights.

Caldwell sweeps past Rockets in opener

The highly-talented Caldwell County Tigers allowed Crittenden to stay close for a quarter, but from there Caldwell took command en route to a season-opening win for the Tigers and season-opening loss for the Rockets.

Crittenden's Devin Belt, a newcomer at center, was a pleasant surprise. He scored six points and gathered seven rebounds while playing virtually the entire game. Rocket guard Aaron Owen led the way with 15 points. Elijah Sindelar scored a dozen to lead the Tigers and Dee Cain scored 10.


Game Box Score

Basketball - Game Box Score
Crittenden Rockets vs. Caldwell Tigers
Date: 12/12/2013   Time: 19:38   Site: Unknown   Attendance:


Visitors: Caldwell Tigers
##NamePFG 3 PtFTPTSORBDRBTRPFASTTOBSSTDAMIN
0 2/3 0/0 1/2 5 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 13:07
1 3/3 0/0 1/4 7 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 7:57
2* 4/9 2/4 2/2 12 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 27:10
3 0/3 0/1 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7:28
4 2/4 1/2 1/2 6 0 4 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 15:56
5 0/2 0/0 0/0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 11:57
11* 1/3 0/2 2/2 4 0 3 3 1 3 4 0 3 0 22:57
14 1/3 0/0 2/2 4 2 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 6:02
22* 3/6 0/0 0/0 6 2 1 3 3 0 2 1 0 0 25:40
23* 4/6 0/1 1/2 9 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 29:08
35* 2/5 0/1 6/8 10 2 4 6 3 1 0 0 1 0 29:34
42 1/1 0/0 0/0 2 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 6:02
Team03331
Totals23/483/1116/24659233220813160
Total FG1st Half13/2356.5% 2nd Half10/2540.0% Game23/4847.9%
3 PT FG1st Half2/728.6% 2nd Half1/425.0% Game3/1127.3%
Free Throws1st Half11/1668.8% 2nd Half5/862.5% Game16/2466.7%

Home: Crittenden Rockets
##NamePFG 3 PtFTPTSORBDRBTRPFASTTOBSSTDAMIN
2* Owen, AaronG 4/16 1/8 6/9 15 2 1 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 30:44
3* Young, LandonG 1/5 0/2 1/3 3 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 2 0 35:15
4Dickerson, NoahG/F 0/1 0/1 0/0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 8:06
11Hicks, DillanG 0/1 0/0 0/2 0 1 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 9:13
14* Gilbert, TravisG 2/6 2/4 0/0 6 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 28:00
15Champion, TaylorF 0/0 0/0 3/4 3 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 6:36
20Tinsley, ZachF 0/1 0/0 0/4 0 1 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 3:36
23Watson, ColbyG/F 2/3 1/2 0/0 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3:50
31Driver, AdamF/C 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
24Watson, DakotaF/C 2/7 0/0 0/0 4 3 4 7 1 1 1 0 1 0 17:16
5Faith, TrevorG 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
10Greenwell, JacobG 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
22James, RyanF 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
24* Watson, DakotaF/C 1/1 0/0 0/0 2 1 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 19:35
25Myers, MaesonG/F 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
30* Belt, DevinC 3/7 0/1 0/0 6 2 5 7 4 1 5 0 3 0 34:45
32Hadfield, NoahG/F 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DNP
Team4485
Totals15/484/1810/224417183518824090
Total FG1st Half7/2330.4% 2nd Half8/2532.0% Game15/4831.3%
3 PT FG1st Half3/837.5% 2nd Half1/1010.0% Game4/1822.2%
Free Throws1st Half4/1233.3% 2nd Half6/1060.0% Game10/2245.5%


Cal CHS Cal CHS Cal CHS
Free Throw Pts1610 3Pt Points912 Pts/Possession0.890.55
Pts off Turnovers1912 2nd Chance Points1313 Pts off Bench2412
Total Rebounds3235 Team Rebounds38 Dead Ball Reb65
Off Rebound %33.342.5 Def Rebound %57.566.7 Total Rebound %47.852.2
Technical FoulsCal None
CHS None
OfficialsUnknown


1st Half2nd Half OT 1OT 2OT 3OT 4Total
Caldwell Tigers 39 26 0 0 0 065
Crittenden Rockets 21 23 0 0 0 044
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