Basketball Openers: A tale of two road trips

Rockets win going away at Ballard Memorial
Rocket basketball coach Denis Hodge knew it would take his basketball team a bit to get its legs and find its touch. He probably didn’t imagine it would take just three quarters.

Crittenden County opened its season Tuesday at Ballard Memorial and used some big runs to overtake the hosts 71-45, but it wasn’t that lopsided until late.

The Rockets had runs of 9-0 and 16-3 in the first half to lead by almost a dozen, 31-21, at the break.

With three minutes to go in the third period, the Rockets were ahead 35-22. From there, Crittenden punched on the afterburners and exploded for almost 40 points in the final 12 minutes to win going away in its opener. Senior Erik O’Leary scored 20 to lead the way.

The Rockets will be at home on Friday for a varsity doubleheader against Fifth District opponent Trigg County.

Rockets 71, Ballard Memorial 45
Crittenden Co. 16 31 52 71
Ballard Memorial 11 20 30 45
CRITTENDEN - Winders 4, Mott 16, Morgeson 8, O’Leary 20, Dobyns 6, M.Carlson 4, Turley 13, McGowan, Guess, Ford. 3-pointers 7 (Mott 2, O’Leary 2, Morgeson 2, Turley). FT 6-10.
BALLARD - Cox 4, Adams 3, Maki 2, Donlow 26, Gray 2, Parrott 5, Baker 2, Hollinsworth 1. 3-pointers 5. FT 6-15.Lady Rockets go cold from
field in 4th to lose at Union

Lady Rockets run out of juice in 4th
After three quarters, Crittenden County was dead even with Union County in both teams’ opening basketball game Tuesday at Morganfield.

However, Union County junior guard Raelle Beaven scored 10 of her 11 points in the final period to pace a 19-8 final run that held off Crittenden County.

The Lady Rockets were led by freshman guard Taylor Guess’s 17 points. She had one field goal in the fourth period and that was the only basket Crittenden managed for the entire period. The rest of its points in the last quarter came at the foul line, and that just wasn’t enough.

Junior Nahla Woodward struggled with foul trouble in the game and wasn’t too much help on offense. She finished with five points. Jaelyn Duncan had 11 for Crittenden.

The Lady Rockets will be at home on Friday to open its Fifth District schedule against Trigg County.

Union County 53, Lady Rockets 42
Crittenden Co. 8 17 34 42
Ballard Memorial 6 17 34 53
CRITTENDEN - Guess 17, Boone 6, Moss 3, Woodward 5, Duncan 11, Hayes, Long. 3-pointers 14. 3-pointers 2 (Guess, Boone). FT 12-18.
UNION - Beaven 11, Roberson 1, Morris 2, Hibbs 14, Jenkins 10, Hagan 11, Morris 4. FG 22. 3-pointers none. FT 11-15.