Lady Rockets eliminated from regional tournament

CADIZ, Ky. – One victory shy of a coveted threshold, Crittenden County just missed its fifth 20-win season in coach Shannon Hodge’s 31 years as the Lady Rocket skipper, losing 72-44 to Henderson County Monday in the opening round of the Second Region Tournament.

Elliot Evans guards a Henderson player
during Monday's regional opener.

Sophomore Anna Boone, the Fifth District Player of the Year, scored 21 points against the Lady Colonels, moving up to No. 7 on the Lady Rocket career scoring list with 1,131 points, just two shy of being in the sixth spot.

Crittenden kept the game close for a half. With under two minutes to play in the second period, the Lady Rockets trailed Henderson (23-7) by just three. However, two quick threes gave the Colonel women a nine-point halftime cushion. They expanded it quickly in the third and led by 16 by the start of the final quarter.

Henderson was more physical and beat CCHS to the basket often, prompting Crittenden to deploy a zone defense. Henderson had an answer. It was able to get some back door cuts and finished with seven three-pointers.

For Crittenden, it brought their season to a close against the same team that defeated the Rocket girls in the regional championship a year earlier.

Henderson advances to play Christian County in a regional semifinal Friday. Christian defeated Madisonville 56-51 in the other opening-round game Monday at Trigg County's gym.

Crittenden County 12 20 34 44
Henderson County 17 29 50 72
CRITTENDEN – Boone 21, Evans 6, Hodge 9, Federico 2, Rushing 4, Champion 2, Holeman, Stewart, Munday, Walker. FG 16. 3-pointers 1 (Boone). FT 7-9.
HENDERSON – Gish 7, Gardner 4, Kemp 4, Rideout 16, Cansler 9, Green 16, Gibson 16, Stanley, Burnett, Locher, Estabrook, Hall. FG 28. 3-pointers 7. FT 9-13.