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OWENSBORO, Ky. — When Crittenden County came out cooler than a day-old dumpling in the All "A" Classic State Tournament opener Wednesday night at Owensboro, it was pretty obvious that it would take some uncommon resourcefulness to chisel out a win.
And that’s exactly what the Lady Rockets provided in a 51-32 victory that lifts CCHS into the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Friday.
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| Jordyn Hodge and Anna Boone double up on Martin County's 6-4 center. MORE GAME PHOTOS |
“We got to the free-throw line three or four times early in the first quarter. We usually knock down free throws, and they didn’t go,” said Hodge, who has led her team to the state tournament 10 times since 1998. “Layups weren’t going in, threes weren’t going in, and when we don’t score the ball, we can’t get in our defenses and presses.”
On the Fahrenheit scale, their offense was below freezing from the floor, but Jordyn Hodge and Anna Boone provided a couple of thawing three-pointers out of a break between the third and fourth periods to give Crittenden its first lead of the game, 34-30, after trailing by as many as 11 in the first half.
Although the Rocket girls suffered from a big chill on offense, Martin County was unable to create adequate separation on the scoreboard as Crittenden’s tenaciousness kept it within striking distance. Even when the Lady Cardinals' 6-foot-4 freshman center went to the bench with a couple of fouls in the second period, CCHS was unable to muster enough points to make an earlier run.
“We didn’t play good in the beginning. It was like there was a lid on the rim. But we were getting some stops with our defense,” said junior forward Andrea Federico. “That’s how we go.”
Although they fell behind and stayed there for three full quarters, there was never any apparent fear or doubt on the Lady Rockets' faces. However, there were indeed signs of great relief when those fourth-quarter threes fell.
"When Jordyn finally hit the three, it broke the ice.Everybody was like, 'Here we go!'" the coach said.
“I was a little worried because our shots were not falling,” Boone said after the game. “But I know who we are and knew they would fall when we needed them. A big turning point was when Jordyn’s three went in, then mine did” two possessions later.
Those were the only threes that found their mark despite 13 attempts by the Lady Rockets.
By the fourth period, Crittenden’s full-court, trapping defense began to pay large dividends, particularly in Martin County's backcourt.
Once ahead, Crittenden was able to move its offense out a bit farther on the floor, and worked an open layup by Bristyn Rushing with a long-pass assist by Boone from the wing.
From there, Hodge poured in nine foul shots down the stretch, and Crittenden won by 19. While the "dub" might have been a bit ugly to some observers, a win on that stage, under those circumstances in the face of such adversity, may one day rank among this group's finest when an historical perspective is applied.
The Lady Rockets (15-3) will face Louisville's Whitefield Academy (13-3) in the next round. Whitefield beat Knott County Central 35-30 in the opening round.
Crittenden Co. 6 16 28 51
MARTIN — Spaulding 5, Harless 9, B. Marcum 6, May 3, Maynard 7, Davis, M. Marcum 2. FG 13-39. 3-pointers 4-10. FT 4-9. Rebounds 33 (Maynard 9).
CRITTENDEN — Boone 17, Hodge 16, Federico 4, Evans 2, Rushing 10, Holeman 2, Stewart. FG 13-40. 3-pointers 2-13 (Boone, Hodge). FT 23-34. Rebounds 27 (Rushing 5).
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