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.