Crittenden County Basketball

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.”

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Fraliex hired as boys' basketball coach

Crittenden County High School on Tuesday named Matt Fraliex the new high school boys’ basketball coach.

The 2007 graduate of Caldwell County High School remains the boys’ basketball career scoring leader with 2,941 points.

He was the boys’ assistant coach at Caldwell last season after a two-year stint as head girls’ coach at Todd Central. He’s an elementary school teacher and has taught at Tennessee schools in Nashville and Clarksville. Fraliex played colllege basketball at Murray State and Mid Continent University at Mayfield before the school closed.

Fraliex replaces DJ Pigg who left the team after one season.

A two-time All-State selection as a player, Fraliex was a five-year starter from 2002 to 2007 at Caldwell County. He was a district champion as a player and finalist for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball. Fraliex also played in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star game.

Sunday, May 14, 2023

2023 Post-Season Awards Ceremonies

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Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Pigg resigns as Rocket basketball skipper

Crittenden County is in the market for a new basketball coach following the resignation Monday of DJ Pigg.

After just one season at the helm, Pigg says he’s taking a leap of faith and stepping down. Last year was a big one for Pigg, who took his first head coaching job, bought a house in Lyon County and got married, in that order. He and his wife, Bailey, have roots in Marshall and Graves counties and he’s hoping to spend more time in that area of western Kentucky.

Pigg led the Rockets to an 11-18 record. The team dropped its last seven games of the season, including an eight-point loss to Trigg County in the Fifth District Tournament. Crittenden had finished second in the district during the regular season, finishing 4-2. Its only league losses were to eventual Second Region champion Lyon County. The Rockets’ final season power ranking had them 11th among the region’s 15 teams.

Pigg, 25, said he’s enjoyed his experience in Crittenden County, but had been praying with his wife about their future. He said it became apparent last week that he was being led to do something different.

Crittenden County is now seeking its 20th head basketball coach since the school consolidated with Marion in 1957.

"I’m very thankful for the opportunity I was given here. I appreciate every bit of guidance and support everyone in the district provided me in the last year. This is a decision based on faith and family. After conversations I’ve had with my wife, my family, my friends and God, I feel that now is the right time for me to move on," Pigg said.

CCHS Athletic Director Bryan Qualls said a search is already underway for a replacement. The job announcement will be posted on the school district’s website.