Fifth District Champs | Defense hauls home title

CADIZ, Ky. – Defense did the dirty work, and Anna Boone’s NBA-range threes brought the house down Thursday as Crittenden County beat Lyon County 64-49, claiming the team’s third Fifth District championship in the last four years.

Playing for the title has become routine for the four starting juniors, who have been part of every tournament since their eighth-grade season. Boone and classmate Andrea Federico provided the lift CCHS needed at key points in the game.

Anna Boone drives down the floor

Sophomore Jordyn Hodge played a pivotal role, keeping Lyon guard Piper Cotham – the Fifth District Player of the Year – five points below her season average. The job would have been much cleaner had Cotham not gotten lost in traffic three times in the second half, getting open to sink three-pointers. She scored only three points in the first half.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls,” said 33-year Lady Rocket skipper Shannon Hodge. “Defending to the end and Anna Boone hitting those two big threes. I am just so excited for these girls.”

CCHS led by as many as eight points in the first half and 10 in the third period, but Lyon roared back behind Cotham’s long-range shots and Trinity Taylor and Jenna Cousey’s play around the basket. Cotham dropped a couple of foul shots with just over three minutes to play, bringing her team within two, 51-49, but that was it for the Lyons. Crittenden County shut them out the rest of the way as Boone scored eight down the stretch to lead a 12-0 run over the game’s final three minutes.

“I could hear Coach Hodge say, ‘Don’t shoot,’” Boone said with a chuckle about the first fourth-quarter three-pointer she took from the deep wing just steps in front of her coach on the sideline.

Jordyn Hodge is freed by a screen

That shot was nothing but net, and so was the follow-up seconds later. It was the proverbial nail CCHS needed to close out the Lyons, a team that has been a pesky adversary for the last several seasons.

Last year’s regional player of the year, Boone scored in various ways against Lyon, finishing with a game-high 25 points.

Over the past 11 years, CCHS has faced the Lyons six times in the district finale, winning three and losing three. It was Lyon’s turn last season, and that one still sticks with the girls.

“This one meant a lot. We all remember what happened last year and didn’t want that again,” said Federico, who was both tough and soft around the basket at the right times and finished with 15 points.

Boone, Hodge and Elliot Evans were named to the All Fifth District team.

Crittenden and Lyon both advance to next week’s regional tournament at Christian County. CCHS will get a runner-up from another Second Region district and the Lyons will play a district champ. The pairings will be determined on Saturday. Crittenden will play either Monday or Tuesday in the first round. 

Around the Second Region, Henderson beat Union County for the Sixth District championship, Christian County beat Hopkinsville for the Eighth District title and Madisonville and Hopkins Central play Friday night at Princeton for the Seventh District championship. 

Lyon County 13 23 41 49
Crittenden Co. 14 26 45 64
LYON – Taylor 15, Cotham 15, Collins 3, Coursey 10, Perry 6, Akridge. 3-pointers 4 (Cotham 3, Taylor). FT 7-11.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 25, Evans 8, Hodge 6, Federico 15, Rushing 6, Stewart 4. 3-pointers 3 (Boone). FT 17-20.

Rocket season comes to end in tournament

CADIZ, Ky. – For the Rockets, Tuesday’s 95-24 loss in the opening round of the Fifth District Tournament came as no surprise, as Lyon County – the defending state champion and a regional contender – took control early and cruised to an easy win.

The Rockets closed out a disappointing 0-26 season plagued by injuries and player departures. It wasn’t the program’s first winless campaign; CCHS went 0-24 in 1990-91 under head coach Jim Simmons.

Freshman Drake Young led CCHS against Lyon with 11 points. He was the team’s leading scorer for the season with an 8-point average.

Crittenden County 4 12 15 24
Lyon County 35 60 78 95
CRITTENDEN – LaRue, Porter, Cowsert, Dayberry 3, Stevenson, Young 11, Candelario, Martin 3, C.Poindexter, Ellington 3, Murray, Jones, B.Poindexter 4. 3-pointers 6 (Young 3, Martin, Ellington, Dayberry). FT 0-2.
LYON – Kirk 20, Co.Collins 13, Coffman 12, Ca.Collins 6, Defew 9, Lukas 10, Baker 2, Phillips 8, Prow 2, Ramey, Herring 10, Thompson 3, McDaniels. 3-pointers 7 (Co.Collins 3, Phillips 2, Herring, Kirk). FT 10-17.

Lady Rockets will face Lyon for district crown

Elliot Evans (22) scored 13 points in her first
game since Feb. 4 due to ankle injury.

CADIZ, Ky. – Crittenden County will return to the Fifth District championship game Thursday for the 10th time in 11 seasons. It likely would have been the 11th straight had it not been for a COVID forfeit in 2021. Instead, this will be the fourth straight trip to the tournament final for CCHS.

After dispatching district tournament host Trigg County 64-28 on Monday, the Rocket girls will be vying for their fifth title over that same span.

Coach Shannon Hodge said her girls had to “knock some rust off” in the early minutes of Monday’s tournament opener, but once the rough edges were smoothed out, CCHS poured it on the Lady Wildcats, and the mercy rule running clock was enforced with two minutes left in the third period.

Crittenden had not played in 11 days due to snow and had lost their final two regular-season games against Hopkins Central and Henderson County before weather wiped out that final week of the season.

Anna Boone (2) led CCHS with 20 points.

At Trigg, junior Anna Boone was in postseason form, scoring 20 points, shooting 60 percent from the floor, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out nine assists. Junior Elliot Evans scored 13 in her first game since spraining an ankle Feb. 4 in a loss at Christian County.

Evans had a scare in the third quarter when CCHS was ahead by 33 points. Her wounded ankle was kicked while being double-teamed in the backcourt. Hodge quickly pulled her from the game, and a couple of minutes later, the coach unloaded her bench to rest the other starters.

Crittenden (20-7) will face off against Lyon County (21-8) in the championship game at 7 p.m., Thursday at Trigg County. The Lyons beat Livingston Central in the other opening-round matchup. Lyon is a team CCHS sees quite often each season during the regular season and in the All-A Classic. Over the past 11 years, CCHS has faced the Lyons five times in the district final, winning two and losing three, including last year’s championship at Eddyville.

“We know if we're defensively moving, being aggressive, rebounding the basketball and transitioning well, we will give ourselves a chance,” said Hodge, a 33-year veteran skipper with seven district crowns.

The Lady Rockets posted their 20th win of the season with the opening round victory in the playoffs, giving coach Hodge her fourth 20-win season.

Trigg County 13 17 20 28
Crittenden Co. 20 40 58 64
TRIGG – Norwood, AJ Norwood 3, Bush 10, Grinols 11, Adams, Jones, McGee 4. 3-pointers 2 (Bush, Grinols). FT 4-6.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 20, Evans 13, Hodge 7, Federico 6, Rushing 8, Stewart 4, Holeman 2, Berry 4, Matthews, Champion, Grau, Rich, Hunt. 3-pointers 7 (Boone 3, Evans 3, Hodge). FT 13-16.

Hodge named Coach of the Year

In a decorated career spanning more than three decades, Shannon Hodge has become synonymous with excellence in Kentucky high school basketball. Now, the veteran Crittenden County Lady Rockets coach adds another accolade to her impressive resume: she was named Second Region Coach of the Year last week.

Hodge leads her team into the Fifth District tournament starting Monday and chance to win her 20th game of the season – for the fourth time ever. Here quad has already displayed playoff prowess by earning a berth in the All A Classic final four. It marked Hodge’s tenth time guiding her team to the All A Classic State Tournament, the most among teams in the region.

The latest honor comes as no surprise to those familiar with Hodge's remarkable legacy. Since taking the helm in 1993, she has amassed over 400 career victories, making her the winningest coach in Crittenden County history. Under her leadership, the Lady Rockets have captured seven district titles and claimed a coveted Second Region championship in 2011, which led to an appearance in the Girls' Basketball Sweet 16.

A homegrown talent, Hodge starred for Crittenden County before earning All-American honors at Centre College.

15 threes help beat Rockets at WCHS

DIXON, Ky. – Webster County’s long-range aerial bombardment of three pointers Friday night punched the lights out early as Crittenden County fell 73-30 on the road.

The Trojans dropped 15 treys en route to the blowout victory, their sixth straight victory over the Rockets dating back to 2022. Webster improved 10-15 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Rockets got double-digit scoring from Coby LaRue, who led the team with 10 points. CCHS is 0-25 on the season. 

Crittenden County 3 14 20 30
Webster County 20 34 55 73
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 10, Porter 6, Dayberry 3, Cowsert, Stevenson, Poindexter 2, Ellington 4, Murray, Jones 2, B.Poindexter 3, Myers. 3-pointers 4 (LaRue 3, Dayberry). FT 9-9.
WEBSTER – Bardwell 14, Pumps 4, Hardison, Davis 14, McDyer 10, Phelps 5, Alstadt 13, Newton 1, Hardrick 4, Messamore 2. 3-pointers 15. FT 6-12.

Lady Rockets lose by 10 to Henderson County

MARION, Ky. – Once under the hump it can be difficult to get over it. And so it was Thursday as Crittenden County fell behind early and was never able to fully close the gap down stretch in a 70-60 home loss to Henderson County.

It was a showdown of the region’s top two teams based on KHSAA RPI power ratings, but Crittenden was playing less than full strength with guard Elliot Evans still out with an ankle injury. Despite the loss, the Lady Rockets made a game of it, closing to within four points in the second half.

CCHS jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the jump, but the Lady Colonels (22-4) reeled off a 15-0 run that proved too deep for Crittenden to overcome. HCHS got several second and third chance buckets in the first half and led by as many as 15 before Crittenden rallied late in the opening half and settled for a seven-point halftime deficit.

An offensive spurt in the third allowed CCHS (19-7) to move to within four right before Henderson reeled off the fatal blow with a run that put it ahead by 18 heading into the final frame. There, however, Crittenden closed the gap and coach Shannon Hodge appeared somewhat content that her girls were able to make a game of it down the stretch.

Anna Boone led three Crittenden girls in double-figure scoring with 19 points. Jordyn Hodge had 18 and Andrea Federico a dozen.

It was the first time in 10 years that Crittenden had played so closely with Henderson, yet it was the first time this season that the Lady Rockets had lost two straight. The teams could very well meet again in the regional tournament.

CCHS plays at home against Hopkinsville Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. 

Henderson Co. 22 38 58 70
Crittenden Co. 13 31 42 60
HENDERSON – Locher 7, Hall 2, Gish, Kemp 4, Rideout 22, Cansler 9, Green 19, Gibson 7. 3-pointers 5 (Cansler 3, Gibson, Locher). FT 7-7.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 19, Hodge 18, Federico 12, Rushing 5, Stewart 1, Holeman 5, Berry, Champion. 3-pointers 4 (Hodge 2, Holeman, Rushing). FT 16-22.

Lady Rockets still looking for No. 20

 MORTON'S GAP – The road to 20 wins will be no easier in the coming days as that elusive mark remains just out of reach for the Lady Rockets, who lost 55-35 on the road Tuesday at Hopkins Central.

Crittenden County (19-6) was outmaneuvered at every angle, falling behind by 10 in the first half and 15 in the third period. Hopkins Central’s size was an advantage on the offensive boards, and Crittenden missed some shots in the paint early and finished with just one three-pointer – Bristyn Rushing’s first shot of the game ­– which briefly gave Crittenden its only lead at 3-2.

Junior Anna Boone led CCHS with 14 points as the only Lady Rocket in double figures.

The girls host Henderson County on Thursday before playing Hopkinsville and Madisonville. Getting that 20th win won’t be easy down the stretch. 

Crittenden County 12 20 33 35

Hopkins Central 14 31 47 55

CRITTENDEN – Boone 11, Hodge 8, Federico 2, Rusning 7, Stewart 2, Holeman, Berry 2, Matthews, Champion, Grau, Rich. 3-pointers 1 (Rushing). FT 10-11.

HOPKINS CENTRAL – Cotton 5, White 15, Marsh 3, Menser 6, Mason 8, Dulin 20. 3-pointers 3. FT 2-4.

10 threes not enough at Caldwell County

PRINCETON, Ky. – At Caldwell County on Tuesday, Crittenden County managed only a couple of two-point field goals but buried 10 threes in a losing effort. 

The Rockets lost for the 24th straight time, falling 94-39 to the Tigers (16-9). Caldwell has now beaten the Rockets in four straight encounters. Crittenden County freshman Coby LaRue hit five threes and scored 17 points, while freshman Drake Young knocked down four threes and finished with 12 points. 

The Rockets play at Webster County on Friday.

Crittenden County 10 19 28 39
Caldwell County 27 58 76 94
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 17, Porter, Young 12, Candelario 3, Mratin, Dayberry, Stevenson, C.Poindexter 6, Jones, B.Poindexter, Myers 1, Topp. 3-pointers 10 (LaRue 5, Young 4, Candelario). FT 5-10.
CALDWELL  ­–  Parker 2, Aikins 9, Rowland 14, Wilson 16, Whittington 10, Ka.Wilson 4, Spikes 3, Boyd 2, Roach 6, Wells 11, Lander 13, Ke.Wilson 2, Maddux 2. 3-pointers 8. FT 16-21.

Rocket lose to Hickman County at RA

 MARION, Ky. – Hickman County surged ahead in the second half to defeat Crittenden County 80-41 in a matchup where both teams found success from beyond the arc. Hickman relied on a balanced attack, with four players scoring in double digits, to overwhelm the Rockets as the game progressed.

Hickman (7-17) led 24-17 after a fast-paced opening quarter, with both teams trading baskets and three-pointers. By halftime, Hickman had stretched its advantage to 40-23 and continued to pull away in the second half.

Crittenden County, still searching for its first win after 23 games, was led by Jay Stevenson and Junior Cowsert with seven points apiece. The Rockets were without center Brayden Poindexter, who missed the game due to a head injury sustained the night before against Dawson Springs.

Hickman County 24 40 66 80
Crittenden County 17 23 31 41
HICKMAN – Rosas 8, Dowdy 2, Burpo 15, Crumble 2, Byassee 1, DeWeese 3, Fulcher 2, Irons 14, Boaz 9, Grimmitt 3, Newton 19, L.Grimmitt 2. 3-pointers 8. FT 8-10.
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 3, Porter 4, Cowsert 7, Stevenson 7, Young 5, Candelario 6, Dayberry 3, C.Poindexter 3, Ellington 3, Martin, Jones, Myers, Topp. 3-pointers 8 (LaRue, Cowsert, Dayberry, Young, Candelario 2, C.Poindexer, Ellington). FT 1-2.

Hodge leads late comeback at Union

MORGANFIELD, Ky. – With two hands tied behind their backs in the final two and a half minutes Saturday night at Union County, the Lady Rockets still found a way to win, 51-46.

Crittenden County, now 19-5, has beaten the Bravettes in four of their last five meetings, including a 17-point victory in December. Union County falls to 13-9.

Coach Shannon Hodge has guided her squad to the brink of her fourth 20-win season in 32 years at the helm of CCHS, but No. 19 didn’t come easy. The Lady Rockets were already without junior Elliot Evans— out with an ankle injury—and leading scorer Annan Boone fouled out with 2:36 remaining as CCHS trailed by one.

The game was a battle of attrition, with Crittenden struggling to handle the ball and Union County struggling to finish around the basket. The Bravettes had led by as many as 10 points in the second half, and when Boone went to the bench, the Lady Rockets’ comeback hopes seemed in jeopardy.

However, Jordyn Hodge led a late surge, scoring 10 of her team’s final 12 points en route to an 18-point performance. Boone finished with 14.

Crittenden County returns to action Tuesday at Hopkins Central.

Crittenden 9 19 28 51
Union Co. 13 26 35 46
CRITTENDEN – Boone 14, Hodge 18, Federico 2, Rushing 2, Stewart 7, Holeman 6, Champion 2, Berry. 3-pointers: None. FT 21-30.
UNION –  Davis 14, Bell 2, Steward 19, Tamayo 2, Curry 10 3-pointers: 4 (Davis, Steward 2, Curry). FT 8-15.

Young's 5 threes not enough for Rockets

 MARION, Ky. – Freshman Drake Young dropped five three-pointers for homecoming, but the Rockets lost 87-40 Friday at home.

Young had two threes in the first period and two in the third, but Crittenden County was unable to keep pace with Dawson’s sharpshooting. The Panthers had three players with more than 20 points apiece.

Crittenden lost for the 22nd time in a row this season while Dawson improved to 14-9. CCHS has lost four straight against Dawson dating back to last season. 

The Rockets will be at home Saturday for a 4 p.m., game against Hickman County.

Dawson Springs 29 56 76 87
Crittenden County 12 24 31 40
DAWSON – Bourland 23, Plunkette 6, Johnston 28, Blue 24, Drennan 6, Washburn, McKnight. 3-pointers 5 (Plunkette 2, Johnston 2, Drennan). FT 15-22.
CRITTENDEN – LaRue 3, Porter, Cowsert, Dayberry, Stokes, Stevenson, Young 17, Candelario 2, Martin, C.Poindexter 4, Elliington, Murray 8, Jones, B.Poindexter 6. 3-pointers 6 (Young 5, LaRue). FT 2-7.

Lady Rockets roast Dawson Springs

MARION, Ky. – Critically outmanned, Dawson Springs lost 63-14 at Crittenden County Friday night for the annual homecoming and Hall of Fame game.

Morgan Stewart led the way 15 points for CCHS. Anna Boone scored 11. Elliot Evans was unavailable for action after suffering an ankle injury earlier in the week.

Crittenden improved to 18-5 while Dawson fell to 6-13.

The Rocket girls will be at Union County Saturday night. 

Dawson Springs 2 5 14 14
Crittenden County 22 44 58 63
DAWSON – A.Swatzell, Allison 2, B.Swatzell 4, Sawyer 3, Colson 3, Hines 2. 3-pointers 1 (Colson). FT 3-7.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 11, Hodge 6, Federico 9, Rushing 6, Stewart 15, Holeman 5, Berry 3, Matthews, Champion 3, Grau 2, Rich 3. 3-pointers 6 (Boone 3, Federico, Holeman, Rich). FT 17-27.

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.

Brayden Poindexter led CCHS with a career-high 19 points. Drake Young scored 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.