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.