Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Girls go down in Region 2 showdown

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – On the road in what’s always a tough environment at Christian County on Tuesday, the Lady Rockets lost for only the fifth time this season, falling 56-49 to the Lady Colonels in a showdown of two of the region’s best teams.

Christian was playing without junior Anaysia Bagwell, the team’s leading scorer with 16 points per game. And in the first period, the Lady Rockets found themselves without junior guard Elliot Evans, who went down with a recurring ankle injury.

The game was close the entire way, but Christian’s physical strength and rebounding helped it win. The Rocket girls had won nine of their previous 10 games before losing at Christian.

Crittenden Co. 15 27 40   49
Christian Co.         17 31 44   56
CRITTENDEN - Boone 14, Hodge 20, Evans 5, Federico, Rushing 4, Stewart 4, Berry 2, Holeman. 3-pointers 1 (Evans). FT 22-30.
CHRISTIAN - Anderson 10, Smith 2, Day 20, Hopson 4, McGee 2, Daniel 12, Bradley 6. 3-pointers none. FT 9-16.

Rockets lose in a close one at RA

MARION, Ky. – It was close game Tuesday, but Crittenden County lost at home 57-54 to Heritage Christian Academy.

The game was tight the whole way and had it not been for a 30-point performance from HCA's Jason Leek, the Rockets might have pulled this one off. Leek was 12-for-12 at the line and made five threes.

Drake Young led CCHS with 13 and Andrew Candelario had a dozen as the Rockets fall to 0-21.

Crittenden Co. 18 33 46 54
Heritage Christian 18 34 45 57
HCA – Gresham, Leek 35, Travis 3, Wheatcroft 4, Thompson 4, Kirkman 8, Morgan 3. 3-pointers 7 (Leek 5). FT 16-16.
CRITTENDEN – Porter 4, Dayberry, Stokes, Stevenson 6, Young 13, Candelario 12, C.Poindexter. Ellington, B.Poindexter 19. 3-pointers 6 (Young 3, Candelario 2, B.Poindexter). FT 12-13.


Fort Campbell gets best of CCHS with 2Q run

Andrew Candelario scored 13 against the Falcons
MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County had high hopes for getting its first win of the season Monday when previously 2-16 Fort Campbell came to Rocket Arena for a boys’ basketball game.

It was close early, with CCHS trailing 25-21 halfway through the second period before the Falcons went on a 15-3 scoring run, fueled in part by Rocket turnovers against Fort Campbell’s full-court defense.

By halftime, the Rockets trailed by 16, and the Falcons' lead was extended to 20 in the second half before CCHS scratched it back to near single digits for a time.

Hobbled by injuries and defections this season, Crittenden has lost 20 straight games. One of its leading scorers, Colby LaRue, remains out with an injury, and the team is largely relying on freshmen in both starting and reserve roles.

Andrew Candelario shot the ball well from long range Monday, draining three treys and finishing with a team-high 13 points.

On Friday, the Rockets host Dawson Springs, ranked fifth in the region. It will be the annual homecoming and Hall of Fame game.

Fort Campbell 22 40 51 67
Crittenden Co. 14 24 34 50
FT CAMPBELL – Tow 3, Taylor 2, Wilson 9, Hunt 5, Carolina 3, Dillard 20, Morton 2, Henderson 3. 3-pointers 6. FT 13-26.
CRITTENDEN – Porters 3, Cowsert 3, Stokes 4, Stevenson 2, Young 7, Candelario 13, Martin 2, C.Poindexter, Ellington 6, James, B.Poindexter 10. 3-pointers 5 (Ellington , Candelario 3, Young). FT 9-16.

Friday, January 31, 2025

Rockets fall to Lyon in district matchup

Jack Porter fights through a double team

MARION, Ky. – Although Lyon County was shorthanded, Crittenden County was unable to use make a move at home against one of the best teams in the region. The Rockets started four freshmen for the first time this season and lost 75-18.

The Lyons (16-5) improved to 5-0 in Fifth District play while CCHS remains winless and is finished 0-6 against district opponents.

Lyon County        27 43 61 75
Crittenden Co. 8 13 16 18
LYON – Collins 10, Defew 7, Reddick 8, Phillips 12, Thompson 6, Ramey 12, Herring 13, Prow 7. 3-pointers 7. FT 14-21.
CRITTENDEN – Porter, Cowsert, Dayberry 3, Stokes, Stevenson, Young 5, Candelario, Martin, C.Poindexter, Ellington 3, Murray 2, Jones, B.Poindexter 5. 3-pointers 3 (Dayberry, Young, Ellington). FT 1-6.

Lady Rockets force tie for district RS crown

MARION, Ky. – Relentless defensive pressure by the Lady Rockets had Lyon County scrambling for air early, and when junior guard Elliot Evans drained three treys in the first period, it helped spur Crittenden County’s offense into gear. From there, it was off to the races as CCHS won 63-37 Friday night at Rocket Arena.

The victory creates a tie for first place in the Fifth District standings. The teams have split their regular-season games, and CCHS beat Lyon in the All A Classic regional championship. In district standings, Lyon and Crittenden are both 4-1. CCHS is 17-4 overall, and Lyon is 16-6. Neither of the other two teams in the district – Trigg County or Livingston Central – have a chance to upset the apple cart. However, Trigg does host the district tournament in late February, and their home-court advantage could be something that Lyon or Crittenden might want to avoid in the first round. A coin toss will determine the top seed for postseason play.

Crittenden raced ahead by 16 points by the half as Lyon shot hurriedly and poorly. Junior Anna Boone knocked down a season-high 26 points for Crittenden, and Evans finished with 14. Sophomore guard Piper Cotham scored 23 for Lyon, and no one else had more than seven.

Lyon County 8 20 30 37
Crittenden Co. 19 36 57 63
LYON – Taylor 7, Cotham 23, Colins 3, Coursey 2, Perry 2, Prow, S.Cotham, Lucas, Akridge. 3-pointers 1 (Collins). FT 4-14.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 26, Evans 14, Hodge 8, Federico 10, Rushing 1, Stewart 2, Holeman 2, Berry, Matthews, Champion, Grau, Rich. 3-pointers 7 (Evans 4, Boone 3). FT 8-14. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Tiger defense turns back Rockets

MARION, Ky. – Caldwell County’s early defensive pressure allowed the Tigers to take command of the game in the first period Monday night as Crittenden County dropped the home game, 86-41. 

Caldwell led by 11 after one period and by 35 at the half, as Crittenden remains winless in 18 games. Caldwell shot 23 foul shots in the game, while the Rockets got to the line only a half dozen times. 

Crittenden will be back home Friday for a district doubleheader, along with the CCHS girls, against Lyon County.

Caldwell County 29 55 71 86
Crittenden County 10 20 32 41
CALDWELL – Parker 8, Aikins 16, Rowland 5, Whittington 7, K.Wilson 14, Phelps, Spikes 3, Boyd 5, Roach 7, Wells 9Lander 9, Ke.Wilson 3, Ward. 3-pointers 3. FT 11-23.
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 7, Porter 1, Belcher 4, Cowsert, Dayberry 3, Stokes, Young 8, Candelario 3, Martin, C.Poindexter 4, Ellington 10, Murray, Jones, B.Poindexter 1. 3-pointers 6 (Young 2, Ellington 2, LaRue, Dayberry. FT 2-6.


Rockets outmanned at Paducah Tilghman

PADUCAH, Ky. – Playing on the road at Paducah Tilghman, Crittenden County was no match for the athleticism of the Blue Tornado as the Rockets fell 82-30.

Tilghman raced out to a 21-10 lead early although a couple of threes in the first period by Coby LaRue and Drake Young helped CCHS keep some sort of pace for a while. By halftime, though, the Tornado had spun out of control.

Young and LaRue finished with three treys apiece and they led the team in scoring with 13 and 9 points, respectively. They have consistently been among the team's top scorers, both averaging seven points a game and scoring more of late. Cameron Belcher leads the team in scoring average.

The Rockets host Caldwell County tonight in Marion. 

Crittenden County 10 16 19 30
Paducah Tilghman 21 51 70 82
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 9, Porter, Belcher 6, Dayberry, Young 13, Candelario 2, Martin, C.Poindexter, Ellington, B.Poindexter. 3-pointers 7 (LaRue 3, Belcher, Young 3). FT 1-4.
TILGHMAN – Campbell 7, Thompson 4, Mikel 13, Woodork 12, McClure 8, Purdiman 7, Carruthers 3, Wilkins 15, Copeland, Aurther 4, Mosby 2, Bush 7, Ricks. 3-pointers 5. FT 13-17.