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| Nahla Woodward scored a game-high 25 points to help with a championship. |
In a closely contested ballgame, Crittenden pulled away late buoyed by a key three-pointer by Woodward. The senior center scored 14 points in the pivotal fourth period as the Lady Rockets beat Lyon County 41-35.
Crittenden, undefeated through five games this season and ranked 4th in the Second Region media poll, advances to the All A Classic State Tournament next month in Richmond.
The Lady Rockets last won the Second Region small-school tournament in 2017. They also captured regional crowns in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2011.
With playmaker and leading scorer Taylor Guess struggling offensively from the floor, the Lady Rockets looked inside where Woodward was a dominant force. Guess, who averages 16 points, had only one fielder in the game, but Woodward posted up on the block for most of her game-high 26. They didn’t come easy, however, as she was hounded by double teams and robust post defense by Lyon’s Colista Collins.
Woodward, a regular on the varsity squad since she was in middle school, didn’t score a point in Crittenden’s semifinal win over Dawson Springs. She had averaged just six in Crittenden’s first five games. Woodward is typically a double-digit scorer, but in this pandemic climate it had been difficult for her to get into an offensive rhythm. She got on track at the right time.
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| Senior Chandler Moss took a turn cutting down the nets after the game. |
“She had her best offensive game of the year,” 27-year Lady Rocket coach Shannon Hodge said, particularly with the pressure put on her by Collins.
“That was a fun battle to watch between the two big girls, but Nahla really collected herself, held her composure, and put the ball in the hole, especially there at the end when we really needed it.”
Woodward was in middle school, but a member of the last Lady Rockets' Class A regional championship team.
“It feels amazing. Last time I had been through (a regional final) was in eighth grade and that was just as amazing,” Woodward said after cutting down the nets.
Senior Chandler Moss also was a big contributor, getting all of her nine points in the second half. Her scoring was made even more crucial after sophomore guard Natalie Boone left the game in the third period with an injury. During play, she stepped on a shoe that inadvertently came off of a Lyon player, and apparently damaged her Achille’s ligament. Boone never returned to the game, and coach Hodge lamented the thought of not having her as Crittenden moves forward this season.
“It was an emotional loss losing Natalie Boone. We really depend on her stability offensively,” Hodge said. “I’m not really sure about (the extent) her injury.”
Lyon (3-2) led by as many as three points at several junctures, but it was a one-point game much of the way until Crittenden went ahead for good late in the fourth period. Both of Lyon’s losses this season have come at the hands Crittenden County. The Lady Rockets beat them by 13 in the Fifth District and season-opener at Eddyville.
“Every time we meet Lyon County in a tournament situation like this it’s an epic battle,” coach Hodge said. “I’m just proud of these girls, proud to be here and it’s a great moment for Lady Rocket basketball.”
The All A Classic State Tournament will be held starting Feb. 15 at Eastern Kentucky University's McBrayer Arena. Crittenden County will play Newport Central Catholic in the opening round.
Crittenden Co. 8 12 23 41
LYON – Butler, Matthews 3, Smith 14, Wynn 3, Collins 10, Defew 1, Perry 4. FG 15. 3-pointers 1 (Wynn). FT 4-13.
CRITTENDEN - Guess 6, Moss 9, Woodward 26, Duncan, Boone, Smith, Hatfield, Conyer. FG 15. 3-pointers 1 (Woodward). FT 10-17.
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