Lady Rockets claim another district championship

MARION, Ky. – The threes weren’t falling early. Andrea Federico was glued to the bench with foul trouble. Lyon County had the momentum and a nine-point cushion in the second quarter.

And yet, by the time the final horn sounded, Crittenden County was doing what it so often does in late February, cutting down nets. This time on its own court where the Lady Rockets finished 13-0 this season and 40-4 over the past four.

Bristyn Rushing and Adri Berry wrestle
for a round in the title tilt.

The Lady Rockets overcame a frigid start from behind the arc and rode a fourth-quarter surge from Elliott Evans to a 58-52 victory over Lyon County in the Fifth District championship game. It marked Crittenden’s second straight district title and fourth in the past five seasons.

Recent history between the two programs suggested nothing less than a battle. In the past decade, the district final has swung back and forth with Lyon winning in 2015, 2016 and 2024; Crittenden claiming crowns in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Thursday night added another chapter.

Crittenden (24-5), which had won four straight entering the game, struggled offensively from the outset. The Lady Rockets – statistically the most prolific 3-point shooting team in program history with nearly 200 makes this season – misfired repeatedly from deep. Evans missed her first four attempts from beyond the arc, and Lyon’s chasers confounded Anna Boone and Jordyn Hodge.

Federico picked up two early fouls in the first quarter, forcing coach Shannon Hodge to adjust rotations. Without her interior presence, Lyon’s Piper Cotham found space and poured in 29 points. The Lady Lyons (25-7), who had won six straight, led 23-14 during a 14-0 second-quarter run and carried a 28-21 edge into halftime.

Elliot Evans and Jordyn Hodge (11) fighting for
loose ball with Lyon's Trinity Taylor

“We didn’t shoot the three ball very well tonight,” said Hodge, in her 33rd season. “It was kind of rushed I think. They really covered up Jordyn and Anna. Thank goodness we got in sync down the stretch when we needed it. Elliott carried us in the fourth quarter with two big threes and drove and scored a couple of times.”

Crittenden began chipping away in the third. Boone and senior Bristyn Rushing scored inside, and Federico returned to steady the lineup. Still, Lyon led 37-33 entering the fourth.

That’s when Evans helped to flip the script.

“Going into the fourth quarter we were down by four and Jordyn and Anna were getting face-guarded so I knew I had to step up and start making shots and I just got on a roll,” said Evans, one of four-year senior starters on the team.

She scored 12 of her 15 points in the final period, including two clutch 3-pointers and a couple of attacking drives. With 5:25 left, her deep left-wing three gave Crittenden a 43-41 lead.

From there, the Lady Rockets did what champions do. They protected the ball, moved with purpose and converted at the line.

Crittenden shot 13 of 16 from the free-throw stripe in the fourth quarter and 28 of 33 for the game. Boone finished with 17 points, Hodge added 16 and Rushing had eight.

Lyon’s chances dimmed when Piper Cotham fouled out with 1:07 remaining and Trinity Taylor followed moments later. Crittenden calmly played keep-away and sealed the outcome with steady foul resolve.

Give the Lady Rockets a lead inside the final three minutes and they turn clinical, valuing every possession, spacing the floor, stepping to the line with poise and squeezing the air out of the game. Thursday night was another textbook example, even on a night when the three-point stroke that has defined this era refused to cooperate.

Anna Boone plays defense on Trinity Taylor

Focus now shifts to the Second Region Tournament next week. The draw will be held Saturday to determine quarterfinal matchups, with district winners matched against runners-up in the opening round. Quarterfinal games are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, with semifinals set for Friday and Saturday at Hopkins Central. District champions entering the bracket are Christian County, Hopkins Central, Henderson County and Crittenden County. The runners-up are Webster County, Caldwell County, Hopkinsville and Lyon County.

Lyon County 13 28 37 52
Crittenden Co 14 21 33 58
LYON – Taylor 6, P.Cotham 29, Collins 6, Defew 2, Coursey, S.Cotham 1, Coffman 6, Perry 2. FG 17. 3-pointers 3 (P.Cotham, Collins, Coffman). FT 13-16.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 17, Evans 15, Hodge 16, Federico 2, Rushing 8, Berry, Champion, Hunt. FG 14. 3-pointers 4 (Evans 2, Boone, Hodge). FT 28-33.

Rocket season ends with district loss

8th grader Kash Myers looks
for a shot in the lane.

MARION, Ky. – Another difficult season came to an end Tuesday night for the Rockets as one of the state’s top small-school teams overwhelmed the host Crittenden County in the opening round of the Fifth District Tournament.

Facing recent basketball powerhouse Lyon County (25-6) is a tall order in any season. In this one, it proved insurmountable. The Lyons rolled to a 88-25 victory, ending Crittenden’s campaign at 2-29.

The Rockets came out strong and stayed close for about five minutes, scoring a dozen points out of the chute, but faded by the first period’s end.

The Rockets’ two wins this winter were a slight step forward from last year’s 0-26 mark. The year before, Crittenden finished 3-25. Five victories across three seasons illustrates the depth of a rebuilding effort facing the program, challenges that extend well beyond the final score.

First-year head coach Kenny Jackson inherited those circumstances and, by all accounts, steadied the program through turbulent waters. While the scoreboard often tilted heavily the other direction, the Rockets continued to compete, showing incremental growth.

The Fifth District Tournament exit closes the book on another trying chapter for Crittenden. Yet within the record lies a quieter measure of progress full of grace and dignity.

Crittenden Co. 12 16 18 25
Lyon County 39 60 71 88
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 3, Porter, Bumpus, Topp 7, Dayberry 3, Jones 2, Hutchison, Martin, C.Poindexter 6, B.Poindexter 4, Counts. FG 13. 3-pointers 4 (Topp 2, Ellington, Dayberry). FT 0-0.
LYON – Co.Collins 9, Kirk 21, Ca.Collins 2, Coffman 13, Defew 11, Reddick 4, Ramey, Cotham, Akridge 3, Cowan 3, Cain 11, Taylor 7, Whalin 4. FG 37. 3-pointers 9 (Co.Collins 3, Kirk, Coffman 3, Cowan, Cain). FT 7-10.

Lady Rockets head to 5th straight title match

Jordyn Hodge (11) was the team's leading scorer.
Here she guards Aubrey Leahy.

MARION, Ky. – If anyone is surprised that Crittenden County and Lyon County are on a collision course for a postseason Fifth District championship showdown, they haven’t been paying attention since December.

From the season’s first tip, the Lady Rockets and Lady Lyons – along with Henderson County – have stood as the undisputed top tier of the Second Region. The rankings, the eye test and the results have all told the same story. Their work has tracked almost exactly where most observers projected.

On Monday night at Rocket Arena, Crittenden did its part to keep that script intact. And although Lyon started a bit cool against Trigg, the Lady Lyons pulled away just before halftime and never looked back en route to their 73-54 opening-round victory.

The Lady Rockets stormed past Livingston Central 60-30, improving to 23-5 and moving within two victories of tying the school record for wins in a season. Livingston’s season ended at 7-20. Crittenden has punched its ticket for a fifth straight berth in the district title bout. 

Crittenden leads the recent series with Livingston 15-1 and has now won eight straight since 2023.

Monday’s semifinal was essentially decided in the opening minutes. An inside bucket from Bristyn Rushing opened the scoring before Jordyn Hodge buried a 3-pointer from the left corner. Andrea Federico added a transition score, and Elliot Evans converted consecutive steals into layups as the Lady Rockets surged to an 11-0 lead.

By the time Federico and Hodge connected on additional 3s, Crittenden had built a 17-0 advantage. Livingston finally broke through on a basket by senior Aubrey Leahy late in the first quarter, but the Lady Rockets’ pressure defense and perimeter shooting continued to widen the gap. Leahy finished with 21 points – two-thirds of Livingston’s total.

Evans opened the second half with back-to-back 3s, extending the margin to 46-19, and the Lady Rockets methodically closed out the 30-point victory.

Hodge paced Crittenden with 19 points and Evans posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Lady Rockets knocked down 12 3-pointers. Hodge accounted for five of them. A couple of statistical anomalies stood out in the scorebook as Crittenden did not attempt a free throw and made as many 3-pointers as 2-point field goals.

Now comes the championship matchup most expected.

Crittenden faces Lyon County at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the district championship game. Lyon, ranked No. 1 in the KHSAA power ratings and 25-6 under first-year coach Ricky Baker, entered the week as a heavy favorite in its semifinal and would set up the anticipated title clash if it advances.

It marks the sixth time in 12 years the programs have met for the district crown. The Lady Rockets have won two of the last three championship meetings and three of the last four district tournaments overall. Over the past 11 seasons, Crittenden has captured five district titles, while Lyon has won three.

Since 2010, Crittenden holds a 30-22 edge in the series against Lyon County.

Crittenden and Lyon are ranked Nos. 2 and 1, respectively, in the KHSAA power ratings, and some around the region believe Thursday’s likely matchup may not be the last meeting between the two... a potential regional championship rematch remains on the table.

For now, though, the bracket has unfolded much the way most projected.

The heavyweights are headed toward center stage.

Livingston Central 5 13 21 30
Crittenden County 23 36 46 60
LIVINGSTON – Collins 2, T. Leahy 3, A. Leahy 21, Palmer 1, Wring 2, Mayes. FG 10. 3-pointers 2 (T. Leahy, A. Leahy). FT 7-10.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 3, Evans 15, Hodge 19, Federico 8, Rushing 4, Holeman, Hunt 3, Berry 4, Champion 4, Grau, Rich, Kemmer. FG 24. 3-pointers 12 (Hodge 5, Evans 3, Federico 2, Boone, Hunt). FT 0-0.

Trigg County 11 22 28 54

Lyon County 13 33 55 73

TRIGG – Navarro 12, Mayes, Junes 10, Grinols 19, Norwood 13. FG 20. 3-pointers 6 (Navarro 3, Norwood 3). FT 5-9.

LYON – Taylor 23, P.Cotham 26, Collins 8, Defew 4, Coursey 6, S.Cotham 1, Coffman 2, Perry 3. FG 27. 3-pointers 6 (P.Cotham 3, Taylor, Collins 2). FT 13-23.

Lady Rockets get 22nd win to close out regular season

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County tuned up for postseason play in emphatic fashion Friday night, dismantling 18-win McLean County 70-49 behind a relentless full-court press and crisp offensive execution.

Crittenden County (22-5) forced early turnovers and raced ahead in the first quarter thanks to a 9-0 run as its pressure defense created havoc. The Lady Rockets pushed the margin to 23-9 and led 24-12 at the end of the first quarter.

The defensive intensity never let up. Crittenden extended the lead to 31-12 midway through the second quarter and carried a 35-21 advantage into halftime.

The Lady Rockets continued to dictate tempo in the second half, building the lead to 53-35 by the end of the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Elliot Evans stretched the margin to 64-41 in the fourth, and Jordyn Hodge followed with an and-one for a 67-41 margin, its largest of the game. The Lady Rockets were as sharp on defense and in sync on offense as they’ve been this season.

Hodge led the Lady Rockets with 25 points, including three 3-pointers. Anna Boone and   and Elliot Evans scored 17 points each, and Evans six rebounds. Bristyn Rushing pulled down seven rebounds. Crittenden finished with 26 field goals and seven 3-pointers.

With those 3-pointers against McLean, the Lady Rockets now have 170 treys on the season. That’s the most ever by a Lady Rocket team, surpassing their previous single-season school record of 161 two years ago.

The win marks Crittenden’s third straight victory over McLean County, now 18-10 this year.

Crittenden County opens Fifth District Tournament action Monday at Rocket Arena against Livingston Central.

McLean County 12 21 35 49

Crittenden Co. 24 35 53 70

MCLEAN – Level 21, Floyd 19, Miller 2, Wagner 7, Mincy, Coffman, Brown. FG 15. 3-pointers 1. FT 12-13

CRITTENDEN – Boone 17, Evans 17, Hodge 25, Federico 4, Rushing 4, Holeman, Berry 3. FG 26. 3-pointers 7 (Hodge 3, Evans 2, Boone 2). FT 11-13.

THE SHOW | 2026 | Tourney Time!

 

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 players Kash Myers, Roane Topp and Brady Dayberry.

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Fifth District Tournaments Next Week in Marion

 

Rockets close season with loss to Panthers

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County closed out its regular season at 2-28 Tuesday night with an 83-46 loss to Dawson Springs at Rocket Arena.

The Rockets led 15-13 after the first quarter but were outscored 28-8 in the second period as the Panthers took control. Crittenden managed just three field goals in the second quarter, two of them by Brayden Poindexter.

Poindexter finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down a dozen rebounds. Brady Dayberry added eight points and Roane Topp six.

Dawson Springs, now 9-15, was led by Jaydon Plunkette with 31 points, including seven 3-pointers. Cooper Burge added 24 points, hitting three from beyond the arc. The Panthers knocked down 13 three-pointers as a team.

The Rockets are off until the opening round of the 5th District Tournament, which begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Rocket Arena against Lyon County.

Dawson Springs 13 41 68 83
Crittenden County 15 23 34 46
DAWSON – Riley 7, Slaton 12, Bouwland 8, Plunkette 31, Burge 24, Drennon 1. FG 26. 3-pointers 13 (Plunkette 7, Burge 3, Bourland 2, Riley). FT 18-23.
CRITTENDEN – Ellington 4, Porter 2, Bumpus, Topp 6, Dayberry 8, Jones 5, Myers, Hutchison 3, C.Poindexter 4, B.Poindexter 12, Counts 2. FG 19. 3-pointers 3 (Jones, B.Poindexter 2). FT 5-12.