THE SHOW | 2026 | One Month to Go

 

Join Crittenden County basketball coaches Shannon Hodge and Kenny Jackson each week for the Rocket Basketball Coach’s Show — hosted by former Rocket Trace Derrington and proudly supported by our local business sponsors. Today's program features coach Kenny Jackson with

Rockets Emmitt Ellington and Conner Poindexter.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO VISIT OUR PARTNERS

Mark Williams and Whitetail Properties 

Re-Elect Bart Frazer County Attorney

Farmers Bank and Trust

Nathan Ratley at Marion Recycling

Livingston Hospital

H&H Home and Hardware

Tanner Tabor at YTG Insurance

First United Bank in Marion

Elect Chad Nelson Crittenden County Attorney

Colby Davis and West KY Launchpad

Stuart Haberlock’s Preferred Tree and Land

Lone Star Construction

Ellington Detailing

Roy Crayne Tire and Equipment Rental 

Johnson’s Furniture and Appliance

Jared Champion at JRC Kennels 

Megan Roberts Chiropractic & Wellness

Kenny Locke and Superior Exteriors 

H and R Block Marion

Starks Sports Training

Darrick Myers USA Mortgage

Flury of threes ends Storm's chances

Elliot Evans and Andrea Federico play a little
defense at Hopkins Central, but it was their
offense that helped orchestrate the win.

MORTON’S GAP, Ky. — On the eve of what is expected to be historic winter weather, Crittenden County delivered a flurry of three pointers Thursday to beat the Lady Storm 63-53 in a key Second Region matchup.

Crittenden County led 23-13 after one quarter, stretched the margin to 31-24 at halftime and never relinquished control despite several Hopkins Central pushes in the second half. The win improved the Lady Rockets to 14-4 and further solidified their position near the top of the Second Region, where they are ranked No. 2 in the KHSAA power rankings. Hopkins Central slipped to 12-7 and entered the night ranked No. 4 in the region by KHSAA RPI.

The tone was set late in the first quarter the Storm girls led early, but the Crittenden rushed ahead fueled by perimeter shooting. Andrea Federico knocked down a 3-pointer, Elliot Evans followed with two more from deep and Anna Boone capped the surge with an and-one to spark a 12-0 burst. Adri Berry came off the bench and added a short bank shot at the buzzer as the Lady Rockets pushed the lead to double digits to end the opening period. 

Hopkins Central opened in a triangle-and-two defense, keying on Boone and Jordyn Hodge, but the strategy left Evans and Federico with clean looks on the perimeter. Crittenden County capitalized, getting scoring contributions from all five positions and keeping the Lady Storm from settling into a rhythm offensively.

The Lady Storm trimmed the margin to seven midway through the second quarter, but Crittenden County answered with timely baskets to carry a seven-point lead into the break. Federico opened the third quarter with two straight 3-pointers, extending the advantage to 37-24 and forcing Hopkins Central to chase the game from there. Increased ball pressure by the Lady Storm created brief momentum swings.

Hopkins Central made one final push early in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to seven before Evans drilled another 3-pointer to restore a double-digit cushion with five minutes remaining. Boone followed with a 3-pointer of her own and then attacked the basket off the bounce as the Lady Rockets methodically pulled away in the final minutes.

Evans led Crittenden County with 17 points buoyed by 5 three-pointers, while Boone added 15 points and reached a milestone by collecting the 700th rebound of her career during the game. Federico scored 14 points, highlighted by four 3-pointers, and Jordyn Hodge chipped in 13. Berry finished with four points as the Lady Rockets went 15-of-19 from the free-throw line.

The victory gave Crittenden County a 10-4 edge in the series over the past decade and kept the Lady Rockets. With one more win, the senior class will stand alone with the most victories by any Crittenden County girls class over a four-year period.

CCHS is scheduled to play at Caldwell County Tuesday, but based on the weather forecast that game could be in jeopardy.

Crittenden County 23 31 48 63
Hopkins Central 13 24 35 53
CRITTENDEN – Boone 15, Evans 17, Hodge 13, Federico 14, Rushing, Holemana, Berry 4. FG 19. 3-pointers 10 (Boone, Evans 5, Federico 4). FT 15-19.
HOPKINS – White 11, Marsh 6, Menser 8, Mason 16, Dulin 12, Carne. FG 21. 3-pointers 5 (Mason 2, Dulin, White, Menser). FT 6-11.

Early turnovers costly for Rockets on the road

CALHOUN, Ky. — Rocket sophomore Emmitt Ellington was 3-for-4 from behind the arc in the first half, but Crittenden County could not keep pace Saturday in a 66-25 loss at McLean County Cougars.

Ellington led the Rockets with 10 points, knocking down three-pointers as Crittenden connected on four shots from beyond the arc for the game. Logan Martin added the other. As a team, Crittenden went 7 of 32 from the field for 21.9%, including 4 of 11 from 3-point range at 36.4%. The Rockets were 7 of 12 at the free-throw line.

McLean County built separation early and steadily extended the margin, leading 15-8 after the first quarter and 38-15 at halftime before pulling away in the second half. 

For the second straight game, Crittenden held an opponent without a made 3-pointer, another sign of improvement on the perimeter. The Rockets struggled with ball security early, committing 19 turnovers in the first half before cutting that number to four after the break.

Crittenden fell to 1-19, while McLean improved to 12-7 and took a 4-2 edge in the series for the decade. The Rockets will have a full week off before returning home to host Whitesville Trinity on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Crittenden Co. 8 15 22 25
McLean County 15 38 56 66
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 10, Porter, Bumpus, Topp 3, Dayberry, Jones, Myers, Hutchison, Adamson, Martin 3, C.Poindexter 1, Collins, B.Pondexter 8, Counts. FG 7. 3-pointers 4 (Ellington 3, Martin). FT 7-12.
MCLEAN – Coleman 1, Mauzy 2, Floyd 3, Graves 16, Bozarth 4, Albin 2, Gatton 9, R.Gattn 8, Bertolini 17, Lynam 4. FG 28. 3-pointers none. FT 10-17.

Boone gets hers; Champion nets 17 in victory

Boone got her 2K and currently No. 2
on the team's all-time scoring list.

MARION, Ky. — Senior Anna Boone got exactly what she came for, then stepped aside and let her teammates finish off perhaps the most lopsided win over Livingston Central in program history.

In the first quarter, Boone scored the six points she needed to reach 2,000 for her career, then deferred as Crittenden County overwhelmed Livingston Central 61-14 Friday night in the inaugural Farmers Bank Highway 60 Classic – a new rivalry concept complete with a traveling trophy.

The Lady Rockets raced to a 17-0 lead before Boone capped the opening burst with the basket that pushed her into the 2,000-point club. Boone, the Lady Rockets’ second-leading scorer in history, is also the program’s most prolific 3-point shooter. Taylor Guess is the girls’ all-time scoring leader with 2,643 points.

Freshman Abigail Champion delivered a breakout performance, scoring a career-high and game-best 17 points. Jordyn Hodge and Andrea Federico set the tone early.

Crittenden’s pressure defense all but erased Livingston from the scoreboard in the first half. The Lady Cardinals scored their first point at the free-throw line with about two minutes left in the half

Boone finished with six points for an even 2,000, while Hodge scored 16 and Federico added 11.

The victory continued Crittenden’s recent dominance of the Cardinals. The Lady Rockets have now won seven straight against Livingston dating back to 2023 and 14 of the last 15 meetings since 2021.

Livingston Central fell to 3-10 overall and 0-3 in Fifth District play. Crittenden improved to 13-4 overall and 4-0 in district, maintaining its hold on first place.

The Lady Rockets will enjoy a brief break before returning to action Thursday at Hopkins Central for a matchup against one of the region’s top teams. A game scheduled for Tuesday against St. Mary was cancelled. 

Livingston Central  0  3   7 14
Crittenden County 20 36 46 61
LIVINGSTON – Collins, T.Leahy 1, A.Leahy 2, Palmer 4, Wring, Jennings, Meyers 3, Wood 2, Hinzman 2. FG 6. 3-pointers 1 (Meyers). FT 1-4.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 6, Evans 9, Hodge 16, Federico 11, Rushing, Holeman, Berry, Champion 17, Grau 2, Rich, Kemmer. FG 26. 3-pointers 5 (Evans 2, Hodge 2, Federico). FT 4-8.

Farmers Bank's Andy Hunt presents the Lady Rockets the

inaugural Farmers Bank Highway 60 Classic trophy in front

of a packed house at Rocket Arena Friday night.

Cardinals capture inaugural Highway 60 Classic

Livingston Logan Wring avoids
a collision with CCHS's
Roane Topp in the first half.

MARION, Ky. — Livingston Central’s boys weathered an early push from Crittenden County, then turned the inaugural Farmers Bank Highway 60 Classic into a rout with a dominant second half, pulling away for an 84-56 win Friday night at Rocket Arena.

The Rockets hung within five points for much of the opening period and showed defensive improvement early, but Livingston gradually seized control late in the first quarter and widened the gap in the second. The Cardinals pushed the margin past 20 points before halftime and never let Crittenden back into contention.

Crittenden scored 10 three-pointers in the contest with Brady Dayberry and Jack Porter dropping two apiece. No Rocket scored in double figures. For Livingston, Logan Wring led the way with 29 and Bryson Walker had 19. Avery Zaim and Ethan Garner pitched in 14 and 11, respectively. The Cardinals had no threes in the game.

Crittenden’s defense has shown progress, but fatigue has set in early during recent losses to district opponents, including Trigg County earlier in the week. 

The loss dropped the Crittenden County Rockets to 1-18 overall and 0-4 in district play. Livingston Central Cardinals improved to 7-6 overall and 2-1 in league play and have now won six straight meetings against Crittenden.

The Farmers Bank Highway 60 Classic debuted this season as a rivalry series featuring a traveling trophy between the neighboring programs.

Livingston Central 19 45 67 84
Crittenden County 11 22 40 56
LIVINGSTON – Walker 19, Garner 11, Gainey 3, Zaim 14, Wring 29, Ross, Chittenden, Sinks 6, Messenger 2, Peek, Holman. FG 31. 3-pointers none. FT 22-30.
CRITTENDEN – Jones, Ellington 3, C.Poindexter 8, Dayberry 8, B.Poindexter 2, Topp 6, Martin 3, Porter 6, Myers 8, Bumpus 6, Bryant 3, Hughes 3, Hutchison, Murray, Counts. FG 18. 3-pointers 10 (Dayberry 2, Porter 2, Ellington, C.Poindexter, Topp, Martin, Bryant, Hughes). FT 8-17.

Farmers Bank's Andy Hunt presents Livingston Central with

the first ever Highway 60 Classic traveling trophy.

THE SHOW | 2026 | Season enters second half

 

Join Crittenden County basketball coaches Shannon Hodge and Kenny Jackson each week for the Rocket Basketball Coach’s Show – hosted by former Rocket Trace Derrington and proudly supported by our local business sponsors. Today's program features coach Shannon Hodge along with players Anna Boone and Jordyn Hodge.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO VISIT OUR PARTNERS

Mark Williams and Whitetail Properties 

Re-Elect Bart Frazer County Attorney

Farmers Bank and Trust

Nathan Ratley at Marion Recycling

Livingston Hospital

H&H Home and Hardware

Tanner Tabor at YTG Insurance

First United Bank in Marion

Elect Chad Nelson Crittenden County Attorney

Colby Davis and West KY Launchpad

Stuart Haberlock’s Preferred Tree and Land

Lone Star Construction

Ellington Detailing

Roy Crayne Tire and Equipment Rental 

Johnson’s Furniture and Appliance

Jared Champion at JRC Kennels 

Megan Roberts Chiropractic & Wellness

Kenny Locke and Superior Exteriors 

H and R Block Marion

Starks Sports Training

Darrick Myers USA Mortgage

Second-half collapse leaves Rockets in defeat

Joel Bumpus dives for ball against Trigg.

MARION, Ky. — Trigg County’s lead went from near zero to 30 in the first 12 minutes of the second half and buried the Rockets 80-47 after a highly competitive start to the game Tuesday at Rocket Arena.

What began as a high-energy, back-and-forth battle unraveled quickly for Crittenden County after halftime, largely due to 23 second-half Rocket turnovers.

Crittenden traded the lead several times in the opening half and trailed by just one point at the break, 27-26, after matching Trigg’s physicality and pace. Both teams played at full throttle the entire way, and the game was loose at times — marked by hurried possessions and miscues on both ends of the floor.

The tone changed abruptly coming out of the locker room. Trigg, which shot poorly in the first half, got on track offensively while Crittenden struggled to get good looks. The Wildcats steadily stretched the margin, building a 33-27 lead midway through the third quarter before the game slipped away. A decisive Trigg run late in the period pushed the lead to 54-34 with 25 seconds left in the quarter, effectively sealing the outcome.

Coach Jackson tried to rally his troops
to their second win of the season.

Trigg outscored Crittenden 29-11 in the third quarter and continued to pull away in the fourth, when the Wildcats’ lead ballooned to as many as 32.

Junior guard Landon Swann led Trigg with a game-high 35 points, including six 3-pointers. Crittenden was led by Emmitt Ellington and Conner Poindexter with 10 points each.

The win was Trigg County’s first district victory as the Wildcats improved to 4-9 overall. Trigg has now won seven straight meetings against Crittenden dating back to February 2023. The Rockets fell to 1-17 overall and 0-3 in district play after being unable to sustain the inspired play they showed in the opening half.

The Rockets are at home Friday against Livingston Central for another district showdown. It will be the team’s homecoming game.

Trigg County 12 27 56 80
Crittenden Co. 13 26 37 47
TRIGG – Gude 14, Dixon 12, Swann 35, Travis 6, Broussard 4, Shepherd 4, McCormick 2, Lawson 3. FG 27. 3-pointers 8 (Swan 6, Dixon, Lawson). FT 18-28.
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 10, Porter 3, Bumpus 2, Topp, 5, Bryant, Jones 8, Dayberry 4, Myers, Martin 2, C.Poindexter 10, Hughes, Murray, B.Poindexter 6, Counts, Hutchison. FG 18. 3-pointers 6 (Ellington 2, Topp, Dayberry, Jones, C.Poindexter). FT 5-9.

Lady Rockets improve to 3-0 in district play

Crittenden's Andrea Federico guards
Trigg County's Veyda Grinols.

MARION, KY. – After a greatly disappointing early exit from the All A Classic, the Lady Rockets bounced back Tuesday with their third straight regular-season win in district play. Crittenden County dominated from start to finish, roughing up Trigg County 59-30.

Crittenden County dominated from the opening tip Tuesday night, rolling past the Lady Wildcats for a clean sweep of the first trip through league play.

Defense set the tone early and never relented. Trigg County managed just two points over a long stretch bridging the first and second quarters as Crittenden ripped off a 16-2 run to seize control. A 3-pointer by Jordyn Hodge at the first-quarter buzzer pushed the Lady Rockets to a 17-10 lead, and four straight points from Hodge early in the second quarter quickly stretched the margin. Crittenden led 25-12 at the half after a sluggish scoring period for both teams.

The Lady Rockets opened the third quarter with the same intensity, ballooning the lead to 33-12 and then 36-12 midway through the period. Trigg briefly steadied itself behind sophomore Cali Jones, a force around the basket who helped keep the Lady Wildcats competitive during a short run that trimmed the margin to 38-19, but the surge was short-lived.

Crittenden’s depth and pressure wore Trigg down in the fourth quarter. With the outcome no longer in doubt, the Lady Rockets unloaded the bench with 2:25 remaining, having already rotated freely throughout the second half, and closed out the lopsided win.

Hodge led all scorers with 22 points, including four 3-pointers, while Anna Boone added 17. Boone entered the night needing 23 points to reach the 2,000-point milestone for her career and now sits six shy, with the opportunity to reach the mark Friday night when Crittenden hosts Livingston County as district play begins its second rotation. 

Trigg County was led by Jones with 10 points as the Lady Wildcats fell to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in district play.

The victory extended Crittenden’s dominance in the series. The Lady Rockets have now won 11 straight meetings against Trigg County dating back to a district tournament championship game loss in 2020.

Crittenden improved to 12-4 overall.

Trigg County 10 12 22 30
Crittenden Co. 17 25 44 59
TRIGG – Norwood 5, Grinols 8, Jones 10, Mayes 1, Navarrd 6. FG 12. 3-pointers 3 (Navarrd 2, Norwood). FT 3-6.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 17, Evans 3, Hodge 22, Federico 6, Rushing 6, Holeman, Stewart 2, Berry 1, Champion, Grau, Rich, Kemmer 2. FG 22. 3-pointers 6 (Hodge 4, Evans, Boone). FT 9-10.

Lyon knocks Rockets out of All A Classic

Roane Topp scored a team high 11 points

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Lyon County continued its dominance over Crittenden County on Friday night, pulling away early and cruising to an 83-24 victory in the All A Classic semifinal round at Fort Campbell.

Lyon jumped out to a 27-5 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, extending a streak that now stands at 19 straight wins against Crittenden County Rockets dating back to 2020. The Lyons led 52-14 at halftime and 72-16 after three quarters. Crittenden shot fairly well in the opening half, particularly from long range, but had trouble getting up enough them.

The loss came two days after Crittenden snapped a 51-game losing streak with a win over Heritage Christian in the opening round of the small-school tournament, a result that briefly shifted momentum for the Rockets before they ran into a deep and powerful Lyon County lineup.

Lyon placed 11 players in the scoring column and finished with 35 field goals. 

Crittenden struggled to find consistent offense against Lyon’s pressure. Freshman Roane Topp led the Rockets with 11 points, while Ellington added 6 and Brayden Poindexter scored 6. 

With the win, Lyon County improved to 9-5 on the season, while Crittenden dropped to 1-16.

The Rockets will now turn their attention back to district play Tuesday when they host Trigg County (3-9), a matchup some see as a realistic opportunity for Crittenden to build on the confidence gained earlier in the week.

Crittenden Co. 5 14 16 24
Lyon County    27 52 72 83
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 6, Porter, Bumpus, Topp 11, Dayberry, Jones, Myers, Martin, C.Poindexter 1, Murray, B.Poindexter 6, Hughes, Counts. FG 11. 3-pointers 5 (Ellington 2, Topp 3). fT 3-4.
Lyon County – Collins 8, Kirk 13, Ca.Collins 4, Coffman 11, Defew 10, Reddick 2, Ramey, McDaniels 4, Cotham 10, Akridge 6, Cowan 5, Cain 8, Taylor 2. FG 35. FT 5-7.

Lyon freezes Lady Rockets in All A semifinal

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. – A case of frostbite from too much Northern Exposure numbed Crittenden County just enough Thursday night to let a fourth straight Class A Second Region championship slip away in the closing seconds against Lyon County at Dawson Springs.

A frigid first half of shooting put Crittenden in the ice house, down 17 points at one stretch. Whether it was the rim on the north end of the Dawson Springs gym or just the basketball gods evening things out, that same end of the floor put a deep chill on Lyon County’s offense after halftime.

Call it the northern slope, the Cuatro Curse or simply a long night at the office, but Lyon County outworked Crittenden for much of the game. Behind top scorers Piper Cotham and Lily Coffman, the Lady Lyons won nearly every 50-50 ball and swept the offensive glass clean. Their defense walled off the lane and forced Crittenden to live on the perimeter. The Lady Rockets made eight 3-pointers, but only seven two-point field goals, and leaned heavily on the foul line, where a quarter of their points came, including a third of their first-half total.

Behind top scorers Anna Boone and Jordyn Hodge, Crittenden slowly thawed. Boone poured in 10 points in the fourth quarter as Lyon struggled to find a friendly roll at the north end, allowing the Lady Rockets to chip away, then surge, briefly taking the lead twice in the final minutes.

The final three minutes were played on a knife’s edge. The teams traded leads and empty possessions, neither able to create separation. Boone tied the game late at the line, but Lyon answered just enough, converting free throws in the closing seconds after Crittenden was forced to foul. With time expiring, Elliott Evans got a clean look from the corner for the tie, but the three-ball drew iron and nothing more as the horn sounded with Lyon holding a 54-51 escape.

For Crittenden, it was a difficult pill to swallow. This has been their tournament ––10 regional titles, three straight, and four of the last five. Lyon County, now the heavy favorite, can make it two of the last six if it can get past Caldwell County in Saturday’s 4 p.m. championship game at Dawson Springs.

Crittenden Co. 9 18 35 51
Lyon County 16 29 35 54
CRITTENDEN – Boone 24, Evans 3, Hodge 19, Federico, Rushing 4, Stewart 1. FG 15. 3-pointers 8 (Boone 4, Hodge 3, Evans). FT 13-18.
LYON – Taylor 6, P. Cotham 22, Collins 5, Coursey 4, S. Cotham 4, Coffman 10, Perry 3. FG 21. 3-pointers 5 (P. Cotham, Collins, Coffman 2, Perry). FT 7-12.

THE SHOW | 2026 | Rockets Snap Streak

Join Crittenden County basketball coaches Shannon Hodge and Kenny Jackson each week for the Rocket Basketball Coach’s Show — hosted by former Rocket Trace Derrington and proudly supported by our local business sponsors. Today's program features coach Kenny Jackson and Rocket basketball players Brayden Poindexter and JJ Jones.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO VISIT OUR PARTNERS

Mark Williams and Whitetail Properties 

Re-Elect Bart Frazer County Attorney

Farmers Bank and Trust

Nathan Ratley at Marion Recycling

Livingston Hospital

H&H Home and Hardware

Tanner Tabor at YTG Insurance

First United Bank in Marion

Elect Chad Nelson Crittenden County Attorney

Colby Davis and West KY Launchpad

Stuart Haberlock’s Preferred Tree and Land

Lone Star Construction

Ellington Detailing

Roy Crayne Tire and Equipment Rental 

Johnson’s Furniture and Appliance

Jared Champion at JRC Kennels 

Megan Roberts Chiropractic & Wellness

Kenny Locke and Superior Exteriors 

H and R Block Marion

Starks Sports Training

Darrick Myers USA Mortgage

51 and Done! Rockets snap losing streak

MARION, Ky. – No ladder was hauled onto the floor to cut down the nets and there was no parade planned down Main Street, but for Crittenden County, Tuesday night carried the feel of something worth celebrating. Celebrating Big.

After nearly two full years without a victory, the Rockets finally broke through, defeating Heritage Christian Academy 68-48 in the opening round of the All A Classic at Rocket Arena. The win snapped a 51-game losing streak and marked Crittenden County’s first victory since Feb. 3, 2024 – a drought that lasted 703 days.

JJ Jones works against the HCA press

It was not a championship night, and it may not signal an overnight turnaround, but it was unmistakably a release. For a program that had come close, endured long nights and carried the weight of that streak into every tipoff, the significance of simply winning again could not be overstated.

Crittenden County entered the night 0-15 and winless in three previous meetings with Heritage Christian dating back to 2024. The Warriors, 1-14, led early and were up 10-5 in the first quarter before the Rockets found their footing, and then their energy.

JJ Jones ignited the surge with a 3-pointer that put Crittenden ahead 12-10. He followed with a putback at the first-quarter buzzer to give the Rockets a 14-10 lead, and the tone was set.

From there, Crittenden turned the game into a track meet. A relentless full-court press forced turnovers, five-second calls and hurried decisions, while the Rockets rotated players freely and attacked in waves. Brady Dayberry scored off a steal to make it 18-10, Jones banked in another 3-pointer, and Brayden Poindexter scored on consecutive possessions as Crittenden stretched the margin to 25-13.

Heritage Christian steadied itself late in the half and closed within 25-20 at the break, but the Rockets answered again in the third quarter. Poindexter and Dayberry opened with baskets, Roane Topp finished through contact for an and-one, and Emmitt Ellington buried a 3-pointer as Crittenden pushed the lead to double digits.

Brayden Poindexter scored a career best 24

The Flames trimmed the margin to single digits briefly in the fourth quarter, cutting it to 53-44, but Crittenden never lost control. A mid-range jumper by Logan Martin stopped the Warriors’ momentum, Poindexter followed with a spinning layup, and Topp scored three straight baskets in the final two minutes to put the game away.

Poindexter led all scorers with 24 points and added nine rebounds. Topp finished with 14 points, while Jones and Dayberry scored 10 apiece. Dayberry also recorded 11 steals and eight rebounds as the Rockets’ pressure dictated the pace throughout the night.

Heritage Christian struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 17 of 37 attempts, and managed only one 3-pointer.

For Crittenden County, the final horn brought something that had been missing for far too long – relief. The streak is over. The win column is no longer empty. And for one night at least, the Rockets could finally exhale.

Now, their attention will turn to one of the best teams in west Kentucky. They meet Lyon County on Friday in the semifinal round of the small-school tournament at Fort Campbell.

Heritage Christian 10 20 36 48

Crittenden County 14 25 48 68

HCA – Arvin 10, Askew 2, Hensley 9, Morgan 6, Travis 5, Brown 6, Desch 3, Wheatcraft 7. FG 15. 3-pointers 1. FT 17-37

CRITTENDEN – Ellington 3, Porter 2, Bumpus, Topp 14, Dayberry 10, Jones 10, Myers 1, Martin 2, C.Poindexter 2, Murray, B.Poindexter 24, Counts 2. FG 29. 3-pointers 4 (Jones 2, Ellington, B.Poindexter). FT 6-15.

Lady Rockets advance to R2 All A semifinal

In her 33rd season at the helm of the

Lady Rockets, Shannon Hodge notched

career win No. 446 on Monday,

vaulting her into the Top 30 all-time

in Kentucky coaching victories.

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. – Ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 25 high school girls’ basketball team in Kentucky, Crittenden County’s sights are trained on something closer to home this week. After beating All A Classic host Dawson Springs 64-13 in Monday’s opening round, the Lady Rockets need two more victories in the tournament to capture their fourth straight regional crown.

The Rocket girls (11-3) led from the jump and raced out to a 22-2 edge, then began working in the bench. Dawson (1-6) managed just four field goals as Crittenden beat the Lady Panthers for the 19th straight time dating back to 2013.

Crittenden County has won a record 10 small-school regional titles. Standing in the way in Thursday’s semifinal will be Lyon County, which took CCHS to overtime before losing to the Rocket girls at Marion last month.

Crittenden County has won three consecutive All A Second Region championships and four of the last five. The girls have reached the state semifinals twice over the last five seasons, including last year.

Lyon County (11-3) won 80-18 at Fort Campbell in Monday’s opening round. The Lady Lyons are fresh off a holiday championship in the Kelly Holiday Classic in Paris. First-year head coach Ricky Baker has three players averaging double figures, including reigning Second Region Player of the Year Piper Cotham, who nets 20 points per game.

Lady Rocket skipper Shannon Hodge’s storied coaching career reached a remarkable milestone Monday as the win at Dawson Springs pushed her into an elite group of winners. She now ranks among the top 30 career winningest girls’ coaches of all time in Kentucky, according to the KHSAA website's all-time wins leaderboard. Her 446 victories have been amassed over 33 seasons.

Perry County’s M.C. Napier heads the career wins list with 886 over 38 years. Two other western Kentucky legends rank Nos. 2 and 3 – Henderson’s Jeff Haile (821) and Marshall County’s Howard Beth (794).

Another Rocket closing in on a key milestone is senior guard Anna Boone, who now has 1,953 career points after scoring 17 at Dawson. She is just 47 points from the 2,000 mark.

Crittenden County 22 37 60 64
Dawson Springs 2 10 11 13
CRITTENDEN — Boone 17, Evans 5, Hodge 7, Federico 10, Rushing 8, Holeman 3, Stewart 2, Berry 4, Champion 4, Grau 2, Rich 2, Kemmer. FG 24. 3-pointers 4 (Boone 3, Holeman).
DAWSON — Swatzell, Allison 3, Sawyer 2, Colson, Hines 3, Cook 1, Scott 2, Lowe 2. FG 4. 3-pointers 1. FT 4-8.

Rockets fall to Webster County

Conner Poindexter scored 4 points.

DIXON, Ky. – Webster County’s depth and pace proved too much Saturday as the Trojans rolled past Crittenden County 79-22, extending their winning streak in the series to eight games.

Webster County, now 9-3 on the season, controlled the game from the opening tip, racing to a 26-6 first-quarter lead and never allowing Crittenden to find an offensive rhythm. The Trojans pushed the margin to 45-12 by halftime behind balanced scoring and steady perimeter shooting, then continued to apply pressure in the second half.

Crittenden County, still seeking its first win at 0-15, struggled to generate consistent offense and finished without a made three-pointer. The Rockets also went just 0-for-3 from the free-throw line.

Webster County had 13 players score and Crittenden County was paced by Brayden Poindexter with six points, while Roane Topp and Conner Poindexter each added four apiece. The Rockets managed 11 field goals overall and were limited to 12 points in the first half.

Crittenden County will look to regroup and find positives moving forward as the Rockets continue searching for a breakthrough in the win column when they host 1-12 Heritage Christian in the All Classic opener Tuesday at Rocket Arena.

Crittenden County 6 12 18 22
Webster County 26 45 64 79
CRITTENDEN – Ellington, Porter 2, Bumpus 2, Topp 4, Dayberry, Jones 2, Myers 2, Martin, C.Poindexter 4, Murray, B.Poindexter 6. FG 11. 3-pointers none. FT 0-3.
WEBSTER – Altstadt 13, Pumps 14, McDyer 11, Hardison 8, Phelps 3, Gerard 2, Shelton 2, Newton 4, Dunn 9, Hardrick 2, Whitsell 4, Wright 5, Puelles 2. FG 30. 3-pointers 6. FT 13-20.

Lady Rockets overcome jet lag to beat Mayfield

Anna Boone grabs a rebound.

MARION, Ky. – Jet lag, cold shooting and pinch of foul trouble tested Crittenden County in a matinee game at Rocket Arena on Saturday, but the Lady Rockets leaned on balance and composure to pull away late for a 50–35 road win over Mayfield.

Playing barely a day and a half after returning from a demanding Florida holiday trip, Crittenden County built a 17-point cushion in the first half, then steadied itself when Mayfield made things uncomfortable in the fourth quarter. The win improved the Lady Rockets to 10–3 and marked their fourth straight victory in the series against the Cardinals (3–7).

Crittenden set the tone early, racing to a 10–2 lead and extending the margin to 28-12 by halftime. The Lady Rockets led 35-24 after three quarters before Mayfield briefly cut the deficit to single digits early in the fourth.

Mayfield’s Lay Mayes, who entered averaging 16 points per game, sparked the rally. She scored 20 points, 14 coming after halftime, as the Cardinals trimmed the lead to eight with just under seven minutes remaining. At that point, Crittenden was struggling to find the range from deep and was navigating foul trouble, including four fouls on post player Bristyn Rushing.

Crittenden responded with timely baskets. Abigail Champion and Anna Boone delivered back-to-back scores to restore breathing room, and Elliot Evans converted an and-one to push the margin back to 14. With Rushing limited, Morgan Stewart provided a lift inside off the bench, scoring seven points off the bench to stabilize the paint.

Jordyn Hodge led the Lady Rockets with 13 points, while Boone added 12. Evans and Andrea Federico scored six apiece as Crittenden finished with four three-pointers and went 12-of-17 at the free-throw line to close things out.

Despite the uneven shooting night, Crittenden’s ability to weather the late Mayfield push highlights its maturity coming off a challenging stretch.

The Lady Rockets will next turn their attention to the All A Classic regional tournament at Dawson Springs. Crittenden County has won three straight regional All A titles and will be seeking its fifth championship in the past six years and 11th overall – the most regional small-school titles in regional history.

Mayfield  2 12 24 35
Crittenden Co. 10 28 35 50
MAYFIELD – Creason 4, Henson 4, A.Creason 6, Feagin, Mayes 20, Edwards, Winstead 1, Hunt. FG 11. 3-poinetrs 3 (A.Creason 2, Creason). FT 10-12.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 12, Evans 6, Hodge 13, Federico 6, Rushing 1, Holeman 3, Stewart 7, Berry, Champion 2, Grau, Rich, Kemmer. FG 17. 3-pointers 4 (Boone, Evans, Hodge, Champion). FT 12-17.

Rockets cross dubious mark with loss to Mayfield

Rocket eighth-grader Kash Myers works
in the backcourt against Mayfield's defense.

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County boys’ basketball reached a dubious milestone Friday night, dropping its 50th straight game in a 68-28 loss to Mayfield.

The Rockets, now 0-14, last won in early February 2024 and have gone 3-65 over the past three seasons. Mayfield improved to 5-5 and extended its winning streak in the series to eight straight games dating back to 2012.

Mayfield built the margin early, leading 21-6 after the first quarter and 48-11 at halftime before cruising the rest of the way. The Cardinals outscored Crittenden 20-9 in the third quarter to push the lead to 60-20 entering the final period.

Emmitt Ellington paced Crittenden County with 11 points, tying his career best and Roane Topp added a half dozen points for CCHS.

Crittenden returns to action Saturday night at Webster County and will open play in the All A Classic on Tuesday against Heritage Christian.

Mayfield 21 48 60 68
Crittenden 6 11 20 28
MAYFIELD – Morris 9, Byrd 9, Flint 10, Hoover 6, Robbins 2, Kirby 16, Isiam 3, Todd 3, Taylor 2, Shultz 4, Davis 4. FG 29. 3-pointers 3. FT 5-13.
CRITTENDEN – Porter, Dayberry 2, C. Poindexter 2, Topp 6, B. Poindexter 4, Young 3, Martin, Ellington 11, Bumpus, Myers, FG 11. 3-pointers 3 (Ellington 2, Young). FT 3-7.