Mandatory outage sharpens Morgeson's game

Morgeson has averaged 18 points in the
past 7 Crittenden County games.

MARION, Ky. – Since serving a two-game suspension a about a month ago for an ejection, junior Preston Morgeson has developed a more disciplined approach, and it’s paying dividends for the Rockets.

He scored a game-high 18 points Saturday as Crittenden County dispatched 14-8 Carlisle County 53-51 in a game that went right down the wire. 

Morgeson, who earlier in the season was prone to foul trouble which kept him on the bench for minutes at a time, didn’t pick up his first personal foul until late in the third quarter against the Comets. Meanwhile his offensive and defensive presence was a key ingredient in the win. He dropped four three-pointers, giving CCHS a big lift at key junctures.

In the Jan. 13 game where the junior was suspended for a flagrant foul and the five contests leading up to it, Morgeson averaged 8.2 points a game. In contests since his return, Morgeson is scoring right at 18 an outing.

The Rockets led virtually the entire way against Carlisle, but it was a one-point game in the final minute. CCHS made its foul shots down the stretch to close the deal and improve to 12-13.

Sophomore Travis Champion scored 17 for Crittenden, and Carlisle scoring stalwart Garrett Hayden – who put up 70 in a game earlier this season against Tilghman – led shared Comet high-scoring honors at 14 with sophomore Carter Burnett. Hayden, a senior, had been on the shelf lately, recovering from a knee injury.

The Rockets will be at Union County (16-8) Tuesday and will have just two more regular-season contests next week before the playoffs begin.

Carlisle County 11 20 32 51
Crittenden Co. 17 28 41 53
CARLISLE – Oliver, Grogan 5, Keeling 10, Draper 4, Newsom 2, Williams, Burnett 14, Perez, Hayden 14, Martin 2. FG 20. 3-pointers 6. FT 5-7.
CRITTENDEN – Morgeson 18, Champion 17, Beverly, Adamson 6, Crider 2, Davidson, Derrington 5, Yates, Cooksey 5. FG 19. 3-pointers 5 (Morgeson 4, Derrington). FT 10-18.