Lady Rockets draw path to regional title; boys get Hoptown

Lady Rocket celebrate Thursday, collecting
the Fifth District championship trophy 

Crittenden County couldn't have asked for much more hope based on past results. For the path to a regional championship berth includes teams the girls have already handled this season. 

The Lady Rockets drew Hopkins Central for the opening round of the Second Region Tournament which begins at 6:30pm Monday at Rocket Arena. The CCHS girls are in the lower bracket with three teams they have already beaten this season. And just as importantly, CCHS is away from the region's top-rated team, Henderson County, which is on the other side of the regional bracket. Based on potential pairings, Crittenden wouldn't see Henderson until the championship game Friday. The Lady Colonels are ranked No. 12 in the state, according to the latest Associated Press poll.

Crittenden (22-7) beat Hopkins Central (18-10) by 7 points on Feb. 15 at Marion.

The rest of Crittenden's half of the regional bracket includes Hopkinsville and Webster County. The Lady Rockets defeated Hopkinsville by 17 points on Feb. 17 at Marion and split with Webster during the regular season. The Rocket girls beat the Lady Trojans 60-45 in December at Rocket Arena, but lost 55-35 to the Webster girls Feb. 10 at Dixon.

Webster will play at Hopkinsville on Monday. The first rounds games are all played at sites hosted by district champions. The semifinals and championship will played at Madisonville. 

Crittenden has won the regional championship just one time in history. That was in 2011 when the girls beat Henderson for the crown. Coach Shannon Hodge's team's 22 wins this season are the second most in her 29-year coaching career.

The Rockets (14-16) drew Hopkinsville as its first-round opponent. That game will be played at 6:30pm Tuesday at Hoptown. Admission will be cash at the gate.

Crittenden's boys' path to a possible regional title, which would be their first ever, is much more challenging. Hopkinsville is (21-6) is widely considered the second best team in the region. Hoptown has lost only twice against regional teams this season – Lyon and Webster. Crittenden and Hopkinsville have not met this season. 

The other side of Crittenden's boys' bracket includes Henderson County (18-12) and Hopkins Central (14-12). Crittenden has faced only HopCentral this season, losing by 10.

2ND REGION TOURNAMENT
District Champions Host First Rounds
GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT
OPENING ROUND MONDAY, Feb. 28
Hopkins Central at Crittenden County, 6:30pm

Webster County at Hopkinsville, 6:30pm

Christian County at Henderson County, 6:30pm

Lyon County at Madisonville, 6:30pm
SEMIFINAL FINALS

WEDNESDAY, March 2
At Madisonville, 6pm and 7:30pm
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

FRIDAY, March 4
At Madisonville, 7pm

BOYS’ TOURNAMENT

OPENING ROUND TUESDAY, March 1

Union County at Madisonville, 6:30pm

Christian County at Lyon County, 6:30pm

Hopkins Central at Henderson County, 6:30pm

Crittenden County at Hopkinsville, 6:30pm

SEMIFINAL FINALS

THURSDAY, March 3

At Hopkinsville, 6pm and 7:30pm

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SATURDAY, March 5

At Hopkinsville, 1pm