Rocket 2023-24 Outlook Episode
First-year CCHS Coach Matt Fraliex
and returning seniors Jaxon Hatfield and Gabe Keller
join The Show and host Chris Evans
Presented by
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Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Monday, November 27, 2023
11 threes not enough for Rockets at Marshall
DRAFFENVILLE, Ky. - Eleven three-pointers right out of the chute was a nice way to frame the start of the Rocket season. However, it wasn’t enough to beat home-standing Marshall County.
The Marshals turned back Crittenden County 85-55 in both teams’ season opener.
Rocket senior Travis Champion dropped 30 points to lead all scorers. Sophomore Bryson Walker gave the Rockets 18. Champion scored six treys and Walker had four. Jaxon Hatfield had the other long-ranger.
The Rockets trailed by just 10 at the half, but Marshall piled it on in the last two periods to win going away.
Crittenden will open Fifth District play Friday at Livingston Central.
Crittenden County 14 35 45 55
Marshall County 26 45 66 85
CRITTENDEN – Champion 30, Belcher, Walker 18, Hatfield 3, Sharp 2, Keller, Travis 2, Reddick. FG 17. 3-pointers 11 (Champion 6, Walker 4, Hatfield). FT 12-16.
MARSHALL – Phelps 2, Henson 10, Parker 6, Staples 18, Stokes 2, Phillips 10, Robertson 12, Linsin 3, Langhi 22. FG 32. 3-pointers 8. FT 11-14.
Marshall County 26 45 66 85
CRITTENDEN – Champion 30, Belcher, Walker 18, Hatfield 3, Sharp 2, Keller, Travis 2, Reddick. FG 17. 3-pointers 11 (Champion 6, Walker 4, Hatfield). FT 12-16.
MARSHALL – Phelps 2, Henson 10, Parker 6, Staples 18, Stokes 2, Phillips 10, Robertson 12, Linsin 3, Langhi 22. FG 32. 3-pointers 8. FT 11-14.
Boone scores 24 as CCHS opens with victory
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| Andrea Federico drives baseline. |
It was a rematch of last year’s Second Region Tournament semifinal that CCHS won by 18. Crittenden has now beaten Hopkins Central six of their last nine meetings.
Lady Rocket sophomore Anna Boone finished with 24 points and classmate Andrea Federico scored 14.
Elliot Evans was fouled driving to the basket for a left-handed layup with 1:36 to go. She punctuated the three-point play with a foul shot to break a tie and give CCHS its biggest lead of the second half, 52-49.
From there, the Lady Rockets outscored the Storm 7-2 down the final stretch, largely from the foul line. However, Boone’s three-pointer on an inbounds play with 51 seconds to do was the fatal dagger.
Crittenden will play at Livingston Central on Friday to open Fifth District action.
Crittenden County 15 24 39 59
Hopkins Central 13 28 42 51
CRITTENDEN – Boone 24, Evans 5, Holeman 2, Federico 14, Rushing 7, Stewart, Hodge 6. FG 22. 3-pointers 5 (Boone 3, Federico 2). FT 7-13.
HOPKINS CENTRAL – Cotton, White 17, Harrison 8, Tori, Marsh 5, Mason 21. FG 21. 3-pointers 4 (Harrison 2, Mash, Mason). FT 5-8.
Friday, November 24, 2023
THE SHOW | Basketball 2023-24 | Girls Outlook
Lady Rocket 2023-24 Outlook Episode
31-year CCHS Hall of Famer Coach Shannon Hodge and
Lady Rocket returning starters Anna Boone and Elliot Evans
join The Show and host Chris Evans
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Rockets ready for new season under new skipper
Matt Fraliex is remarkably prepared for his first role as a boys’ head basketball coach, particularly for his inaugural season at Crittenden County.
He has inherited a team blessed with one of the most talented players in school history who’s chasing down the team’s all-time scoring record. Crittenden County senior Travis Champion needs but 457 points to catch Tim Hill, whose career ended in 2005.
Fraliex has been down the same path. He’s already been fitted with a scoring crown of his own from Caldwell County where played from 2002 to 2007, dropping 2,941 points.
The coach talks about some of the similarities of his own career and what Champion is experiencing right now. The makeup up of this team reminds Fraliex a little bit of his own playing days. He was the star of the show just like Champion. Fraliex went on to play collegiately at Murray State. Some smaller schools are recruiting the Crittenden senior, including Morehead, Transylvania and Brescia. Depending on his final season, Champion’s stock could go up. He’s certainly among the all-time best to suit up for a home game at Rocket Arena.
Champion has 1,365 career points. He’s No. 3 on the Rockets all-time scoring list behind Hill who has 1,822 and Bennett Smith with 1,596. He needs 232 to pass Smith. Champion scored 655 last season and 581 as a sophomore, so capturing the team’s career scoring crown is simply a matter of time, so long as he stays healthy.
“Travis is a leader, a great facilitator and he gets less credit for that,” the first-year Rocket skipper said. “Travis wants to include all of his teammates into the game. Sometimes you have to tell him shoot the ball. He just wants to make everyone around him better.”
He draws a great deal of defensive attention so there should be ample opportunity for others to get in on the offensive action.
The Rockets will look for freshman Bryson Walker to be a key contributor. He had a good summer with the Rockets and played well in AAU against top-notch competition.
“Bryson has grown over the summer. He hit the weight room and added a whole new facet to his game with added strength,” Fraliex said.
The emergence of Gabe Keller and Jonah Reddick around the basket could be a key factor in the Rockets’ success. The coach says both will step into bigger roles than either have had before now. Keller has gotten stronger and gained confidence during a good season on the football field. Reddick, who transfered from Lyon County, has sat out the last two seasons, but the coach likes what he sees. Both, Fraliex said, will have to adjust quickly to the speed of the varsity game.
Jaxon Hatfield will share time at the point along with Champion, Walker and up-and-comer CamRon Belcher.
Belcher will bring a great deal of athleticism to the floor.
“He is kind of an X factor for us,” the coach said. “He can be a hidden gem.”
Fraliex describes senior Turner Sharp as an “Allen Wrench,” who does things to help the team that may not show up in the nightly box score.
Kaiden Travis and Brayden Poindexter bring depth around the basket. Travis is a guy who will “beat and bang” with anybody, the coach said. Poindexter should “come into his own” this season, Fraliex adds.
Andrew Candelario and Dawson Jones are a couple of other Rockets who figure into the mix by providing help off of the bench.
With Lyon County stacked with talent rarely seen in the Fifth District, the Rockets figure to be a contender for the league’s runnerup spot but getting past Trigg County and Livingston Central will be a defined challenge. Crittenden will open district play late next week at Smithland.
Fraliex understands the Rockets will have a real test this season to prove its might around the region, but says he will be building for the future in 2023-24, too.
“This is a good first-year team for me to have,” he said. “While we might have a real test to win the All A Classic or the district, we will be setting the foundation for the future of this program.”
Fraliex, who grew up in Fredonia, says he’s found a home at Crittenden County and wants to be here for a long time.
“I want to have a Shannon Hodge longevity. I want to be coaching these players’ kids some day.”
Lady Rockets regroup without Player of the Year
Coming off one of its most successful seasons ever, the Lady Rockets will be looking to rebound from the loss of Taylor Guess, the program’s all-time scoring leader, last year's regional player of the year and the heart and soul of a regional runnerup effort a year ago.
Guess was not only the team’s playmaker and leading scorer, she was the face of the Lady Rockets for the past three seasons. As a senior last winter, she led the team in two-point goals, three-point goals, free throws and rebounds. Her leadership on and off the court will be difficult to match, but longtime coach Shannon Hodge believes there’s plenty left in the cupboard.
Problem is, the team has already been beset by injuries. Sophomore would-be starters Elle McDaniel and Chloe Hunt are lost for the season. McDaniel with a softball shoulder injury and Hunt with unanticipated knee problems that will require surgery.
Leading the pack will be returning starters Anna Boone and Elliot Evans. The sophomore guards were key contributors a year ago, but in a secondary role to Guess on any given night. Hodge is expecting increased service from the pair.
Sophomore forward Andrea Federico and Bristyn Rushing will figure into the regular lineup with Rushing at the post and Federico at forward.
Hunt was projected to handle some of the duties at the point, so most of that will now fall on the shoulders of Boone, who was the only double-digit scorer last year besides Guess. She’s long and talented.
“Anna has the potential to be a big-time scorer,” said Hodge, who is beginning her 31st season at the helm.
“Anna will need to be a double-figure scorer and rebounder every game,” the coach adds.
Evans could morph into a role at the point at times, but is more comfortable at the second guard slot. She brings defensive energy to the floor and “runs the floor better than anyone else we have,” Hodge said.
Evans will need to score more than the eight points she averaged last season.
“Federico is going to surprise some people with what she can do offensively and defensively,” the coach said.
Finding replacements for graduates Natalie Boone and Addie Hatfield will be a challenge. Federico will need to be strong around the basket, the coach said.
Sophomore Georgia Holeman will be thrust into a regular role after playing mostly JV last year. She’s quick and has a good set shot.
At 5-foot-10, Rushing is one the team’s tallest players, but she’s been troubled by nagging injuries and hasn’t seen much action as a high school player.
“We haven’t had a presence like her in the post with her height and length in a long time,” Hodge said.
Sophomore Madison Walker is back from a illness that sidelined her all of last season. She’s working hard to get back and find a place in the mix, Hodge explains.
Eighth-grader Jordyn Hodge will have to grow into a varsity role quickly. She’s the coach’s daughter and has a great deal of court savvy and ability. The quicker she finds her varsity footing and can consistently contribute, the better Crittenden can expect to be this season.
Freshmen Morgan Stewart and Charlee Munday can also find playing time around the basket. Munday has a good outside shot, too, and Stewart can be a formidable rebounder.
Aalina Henry is a basketball newcomer. At 5-10, she could have a future once she develops her game, the coach said.
Hodge believes the district is wide open. Lyon and Livingston return almost all of their key players while Trigg lost a great deal to graduation. Around the region, Christian County, Madisonville and Henderson will be among the contenders.
“I think we have a world of potential,” Hodge points out. “The district will be a dog fight every game.”
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