Lady Rockets are Final Four Bound

Senior Nahla Woodward scored her career
1,000th point in the game.

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County led from start to finish and punched its ticket for the first time ever to the All A Classic State Tournament final four, beating Hancock County 58-48 Saturday at Rocket Arena.

Senior Nahla Woodward had a heavy payload of rebounds and scored 10 points, pushing her past the 1,000-point mark in her career. She is the second Lady Rocket this season to achieve that milestone. Teammate and sophomore Taylor Guess reached that mark a few weeks ago.

“This game was very physical. We all contributed and Kacie Easley came off the bench and played really good,” said Woodward. 

Guess, the team’s leading scorer all season, led the Lady Rockets with 18 points and freshman Riley Smith had one of her best performances of the season, knocking down 13. Senior Chandler Moss had another 10 points.

“We knew from the very beginning we would have to limit our turnovers and rebound the ball. We got the ball to Nahla a lot but she got double teamed so we had to find new ways and got it to Taylor… and it worked out,” said Smith.

Crittenden led by as many as 11 points early in the third period, but the Lady Hornets didn’t go quietly. They pulled to within two with some accurate three-point shooting and a pressing defense. Crittenden regained an edge in the final period and the game wasn’t close down the stretch.

Taylor Guess led with 18 points.

It’s the Lady Rockets’ seventh time to play in the All A Classic State Tournament and their first trip to the semifinals. They reached the quarterfinal round in 2017.

“I told the girls all week long they had a chance to do something no one else has done,” Hodge said. “They have absolutely bought in to everything we’re saying and doing, and I think they have found a new level of commraderie and chemistry this week.”

The All A State Tournament was snowed out last week and rescheduled for regional play for the first two rounds at various venues. Crittenden hosted the opening round and quarterfinal. They beat Murray in the opener. The Lady Rockets will play at Richmond’s Eastern Kentucky University McBrayer Arena Friday, March 5 in the tournament semifinal. The championship is Saturday.

Hancock Co. 10 17 33 48
Crittenden 14 22 37 58
HANCOCK - Kratzer 4, K.Riley 16, Roberts 4, Poole 10, Morris, H.Riley 5, House 7, LaClair 2. FG 20-45. 3-pointers 5-15 (K.Riley 2, Roberts, Poole, H.Riley). FT 3-8.
CRITTENDEN - Guess 18, Smith 13, Moss 10, Duncan 7, Woodward 10, Hatfield, Easley. FG 22-44. 3-pointers none. FT 14-22.

Rockets' post signature win over Webster

Senior Braxton Winders and the Rockets
won a big game at home Friday.

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County shot well and played equally effective on defense to beat Webster County 56-36 on Senior Night at Rocket Arena Friday.

The Rockets were hot from start. Senior Ben Dobyns, typically a sharpshooter off the bench, got the start and drained a couple of treys in the first period to get the motors going. Crittenden led by nine early and by as many as 29 late.

Webster (14-6) is ranked No. 2 in the region behind Lyon County, a team the Rockets lost to in a similarly lopsided fashion on Tuesday. Crittenden improved to 7-6 on the season. The Rockets are ranked No.8 in the Second Region.

It will be a quick turnaround for CCHS, which hosts Tilghman in a 1:30pm game on Saturday at home.

Webster 10 19 26 36
Crittenden 16 25 44 56
WEBSTER – Harmon 5, Raley 3, Austin 2, Warren 2, Dumcan 1, Turner 1, Nelson 3, McNaughton 5, Allen 14. FG 12. 3-pointers 2 (Raley, McNaughton). FT 10-18.
CRITTENDEN – Morgeson 9, Mott 19, Boone 12, Dobyns 12, Turley 4, Winders, Champion, Beverly, Davidson, Adamson, Derrington, Guess. FG 23. 3-pointers 6 (Morgeson 2, Dobyns 4). FT 4-8.

Guess scores career high; Woodward closes on 1K

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County sophomore Taylor Guess scored 23 in the first half en route to a career high 37 points as the Lady Rockets beat Lyon County 68-59 Tuesday in a district game.

Crittenden will be the No. 1 seed for the district tournament.

Senior Nahla Woodword scored 20 and moved to within 10 points of reaching the 1,000-point milestone in her career.

The CCHS girls also found out who their next opponent will be in the All A Classic, which is begin played at regional sites until the final four. They will host Hancock County, which beat Metcalfe County Tuesday. The date and time of the Class A quarterfinal matchup has not been decided. 

Lyon Co. 20 28 43 59
Crittenden 25 33 56 68
LYON – Butler 3, Matthews 2, Wynn 4, Collins 29, Defew 4, Smith 17, Perry, Dykes, Holland. FG 25. 3-pointers 2 (Collins). FT 7-16.
CRITTENDEN – Guess 37, Smith 2, Moss 5, Ducna 4, Woodward 20, Easley, Perryman, Hatfield, Conyer. FG 30. 3-pointers 3 (Guess). FT 16-23.

Rockets downed by Lyon; fall in 2 straight

Rocket Preston Morgeson was surrounded by
Lyons in Tuesday's loss in Eddyville.

EDDYVILLE, Ky. – Fresh off a COVID quarantine and weather-related cancelation, the Rockets have gone 0-2 in their basketball rebound – albeit, against some pretty stiff competition.

Crittenden’s restart to the season after a 17-day layoff has been against two of the top three teams in the region.

Crittenden fell 86-56 at Lyon County in Tuesday’s final regular-season matchup against the top-ranked Lyons. CCHS will be the No. 2 seed when the Fifth District Tournament begins in less than three weeks. Lyon is No. 1.

Lyon led by as many as 39 points in the game as freshman Travis Perry scored 30 in the first half and dropped in seven three-pointers. He also reached the 2,000-point milestone in his career during the first period. 

The Rockets led at halftime Saturday at University Heights. It was Crittenden’s first game since Feb. 2. Despite no practice, the boys met the region’s No. 3 Blazers with a competitive spirit and nearly pulled off an upset after trailing by just three early in the final period.

Crittenden 8 25 41 56
Lyon Co. 23 55 71 86
CRITTENDEN – Morgeson 9, Champion 6, Winders, Mott 16, Beverly, Davidson, Boone 9, Adamson, Dobyns 3, Derrington, Guess 3, Turley 10. FG 23. 3-pointers 9 (Morgeson 3, Mott 4, Dobyns, Guess). FT 1-8.
LYON – Whalin 3, Ray, Reddick 10, Parker 2, Perry 37, Bingham 2, Radivonyk, Baker, B.Shoulders 15, Haines, J.Shoulders 8, Burchett, Gilbert 4, Wilson 2. FG 34. 3-pointers 14 (Perry 7, Reddick 2, Ray, B.Shoulders 3). FT 5-7.

Crittenden 24 32 40 54
UHA 18 29 43 61
CRITTENDEN - Morgeson 8, Champion 8, Winders, Mott 10, Boone 9, Dobyns, Turley 19. FG 20. 3-pointers 5 (Champion 2, Morgeson). FT 9-12.
UHA - Crump 18, Quarles 23, McGee 8, Bryan 6, Grubbs 3, Shouse, Braxton 3. FG 24. 3-poinetrs 6 (Quarles 4, Grubbs, Crump). FT 6-11.

Lady Rockets advance in All A Classic

 

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County has advanced in the All A Classic State Tournament for just the second time in history, beating Murray Monday at Rocket Arena in a rare chance to play a state tournament event in front of hometown fans.

As meager as it may have been due to pandemic protocols, the home crowd watched as Crittenden's girls led from the open toss, but had to hold off a couple of late flurries by the Lady Tigers. 

The Lady Rockets won 64-53 and will play either Hancock County or Metcalfe County, again at Rocket Arena, later this week or early next. A date has not yet been determined. 

Due to snow, the All A Classic scheduled originally for last week, was postponed, postponed and at one point canceled. A day or so later, it was resurrected with an innovative regional-type ramp-up to the final four. There are 16 teams in the tournament. A dozen will be eliminated at games hosted by different schools across the commonwealth, like the one here Monday. The semifinals and championship will be held at Richmond's EKU McBrayer Arena on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6.

Crittenden has played in seven All A State Tournaments since the small-school championship event began in the 1990s. They have only once before won a first-round game. That came on their last appearance in 2017.

See the full edition of The Crittenden Press for more details. 

Murray 11 27 40 53
Crittenden 21 36 47 64
MURRAY - Turley 16, Campbell 2, Downey, Fish, Darnell 3, Gierhart 13, Smith, Fox, Oakley 8, Howell 1, Daughnity 10. FG 14-32. 3-pointers 4-12 (Turley, Darnell, Oakley 2). FT 21-28.
CRITTENDEN - Guess 24, Smith 5, Moss 2, Duncan 14, Woodward 15, Hatfield, Perryman, Easley 2, Long 2. FG 22-46. 3-pointers 2-6 (Guess, Woodward). FT 18-28.

Lady Rockets play Monday at State All A Classic

Click Bracket to Enlarge

When the All A Classic opens the week after next, Crittenden County will play Newport Central Catholic at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 15 at Richmond on the Eastern Kentucky University campus. 

Tournament games will be spread out from Monday through Saturday of the tournament week for those who continue winning. The championship is at 8 a.m., on Saturday, Feb. 20. If Crittenden can win its opener, the girls would not play again until 12:30 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 18 against either Shelby Valley or Berea. The semifinal round is Friday, Feb. 19.

Crittenden’s opening-round opponent, Newport Central Catholic is a private school in northern Kentucky just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The Lady Thoroughbreds beat Covington Holy Cross 52-50 in the Ninth Region All A Classic championship game on Jan. 9. The Catholic girls also beat Bellevue and Beechwood in the Ninth Region Tournament.

Newport started this week’s basketball action with a 4-4 record on the season. 

Newport Central was 20-13 last year and was the 36th District Tournament champion. The ‘Breds lost in the opening round of the Ninth Region Tournament to Dixie Heights. 

Newport Central is led by junior guard Rylee Turner and senior guard Annie Heck. The duo has led the team in scoring the past two seasons. This year, Turner is averaging 21 points and nine rebounds while Heck is scoring eight points a game. Last season, the two averaged 15 points apiece. 

Rockets on roll winning 5 of last 6 games

MORTON'S GAP, Ky. – The Rockets led from the second period on Tuesday night on the road at Hopkins Central, winning 68-51.

Senior Gabe Mott scored  12 of his game-high 26 points in the third period as CCHS pulled away.

Crittenden improved to 6-4 on the season and has won five of its last six games after starting the season 1-3. Hopkins Central is now 1-4. Its only win came against Whitesville Trinity.

Crittenden Co. 11 32 48 68
Hopkins Central 15 24 38 51
CRITTENDEN - Morgeson 3, Champion 9, Winders, Mott 26, Davidson, Boone 14, Adamson, Dobyns, Derrington, Turley 16. FG 25. 3-pointers 5 (Turley, Mott 2, Boone, Morgeson). FT 13-20.
HOPKINS CENTRAL - Eaves 11, Shadrick, Weldon 10, Skeen, Bone, Williams 2, Morris 8, Phillips 3, Peyton 4, Hall 10, Belt, Harrison, Jones. FG 22. 3-pointers 4. FT 3-5.

Lady Rockets on target at line in Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. – Foul shooting was the storyline in the Lady Rockets’ 80-64 road win Tuesday at Tilghman.

The Paducah girls committed 31 fouls and Crittenden County scored 43 percent of its points at the charity stripe. The Lady Rockets scored just two field goals in the fourth period and made 20 foul shots in the quarter to pull away with a big win.

Four players scored in double figures for CCHS, led by Taylor Guess’s best offense outing of the season. She scored 32 points, going 14-for-16 from the foul line.

Crittenden was originally scheduled to play Madisonville, but COVID canceled that one and the girls picked up the game at Paducah.

Crittenden Co. 11 22 23 80
Paduah Tilghman 13 27 42 64
CRITTENDEN - Guess 32, Smith 2, Moss 18, Duncan 14, Woodward 11, Easley 3, Conyer. FG 22. 3-pointers 2 (Guess). FT 34-38.
TILGHMAN - Gray 15, Shannon, Wurth 18, Biggers 7, Garland14, Reed 2, Shumpert, Warren 6, Minter 2. FG 20. 3-pointers 1. FT 23-28.