Skip stays in step despite regional loss to Lady Maroons

Guard Natalie Boone handles the ball against Madisonville
where coach Hodge observes what's happing away from
the ball. Coach has has won 329 games as CCHS skipper.

When Crittenden County stayed close for more than a half Monday at Hopkinsville and was trailing by just two points with under six minutes to play in the third period, there was a bounce in Coach Shannon Hodge’s step on the sideline as she directed play like the conductor of an orchestra.

Going up against now 28-1 Madisonville, the team with the highest power rating the region, Coach Hodge had to know the shoe would drop at some point.

Yet even after her team went cold – missed some shots and turned the ball over on five stright trips down the floor to let Madisonville gain control of the game – coach Hodge’s management of the game never changed. When her team was down 20 late in the second half, nothing had changed. 

That’s why after 27 seasons at the helm, Hodge’s teams continue to defy the odds. She’s won more 329 games at CCHS, but No. 19 in this season wasn’t within reality. Crittenden fell 70-46 to the Lady Maroons, eliminating CCHS from the Second Region Tournament and ending its season at 18-11. 

It was the third winningest season in coach Hodge’s tenure and with nearly everyone returning next season, there’s no doubt that coach Hodge will continue with a skip in her step.

Madisonville 70, Crittenden 46

Crittenden Co. 8 23 33 46

Madisonville 12 27 48 70

CRITTENDEN - Guess 12, Boone 7, Moss 10, Duncan, Woodward 9, Long, Easley, Perryman 2, Driskill 6, Conyer, Smith. FG 13. 3-pointers 1 (Boone). FT 19-24.

MADISONVILLE - McGowan 2, Carmon 2, Franklin 2, Zieba 6, LaGrange 13, Livingston, Hayes 2, Stafford, L.Peyton 13, C.Peyton 19, Lovan 11. FG 30. 3-pointers 3 (C.Peyton 2, L.Peyton). FT 2-3.