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.