Bench key in opening-round regional win

Georgia Holeman and others came off the bench
to help CCHS hold the line the first half.

Crittenden County found itself in a tough spot early in the opening round of the Second Region Tournament on Tuesday at Hopkinsville. Early foul trouble for a couple of key starters forced coach Shannon Hodge to turn quickly to her bench, and she credited a handful of reserves for helping hold the line and giving her team a chance to regroup in the second half.

That, it did, as CCHS stormed back to beat Union County 46-39 and advance to Friday’s regional semifinal against tournament host Christian County, a team the Lady Rockets lost to by seven on the same floor a month ago.

In what Hodge described as a “survive-and-advance battle,” she said her team didn’t play to its full capability.

“Hats off to Union County for playing hard, defending well and shooting well,” Hodge said. “Abigail Champion, Morgan Stewart, Adri Berry and Georgie Holeman came in during the first half, kept it together and got us through when Anna and ‘Fed’ were in foul trouble.”

The Lady Rockets started sluggishly, missing shots they normally make and turning the ball over while Union County played inspired defense and contested every shot. When Anna Boone picked up her second foul away from the ball with 1:30 left in the first period, CCHS’s offense began to sputter. Then, Andrea Federico went to the bench with two fouls.

Boone is the team’s leading scorer, and Federico, who has been scoring well lately, serves as the team’s physical enforcer around the basket.

Without them, Crittenden went more than a dozen minutes without a basket but still stayed within striking distance, surviving only on intermittent free throws. At the line, CCHS was 4-for-8 in the first half but a paltry 3-for-17 from the floor.

Union County made twice as many field goals in the opening half but led by only four, 18-14, at intermission. Coincidentally, Union led Crittenden County at times in both regular-season matchups and even took a lead into the final period at Morganfield in one of those games.

Neither Boone nor Federico played a single second of the second period, and Hodge kept them out as long as the game didn’t get too lopsided.

When the second half started, Boone and Federico returned to the floor, scored the first four points and Federico had a steal on the press, forcing Union to take a timeout to regroup. CCHS had tied the game, and for the first time, it wasn’t trailing. Those were the first points Boone and Federico scored in the game. Federico scored on the baseline with 5:05 left in the third to give CCHS its first lead, 24-23.

When Jordyn Hodge drained a 3-pointer from the right wing in transition with 2:40 left in the third, Crittenden led by six, and Union had a great opportunity to fold. However, the Bravettes didn’t go quietly, hanging on like a dog tick and trailing by just one with a little over three minutes to play.

Crittenden County, however, scored in transition and at the foul line late to hang on. CCHS was 21-30 at the line and outscored from the field 31-23.

“We looked good in spurts during the second half but never could put it away,” Hodge said. “But we made some plays down the stretch to get a win.”

Hodge said rebounding will be a key factor when the Lady Rockets face a bigger, more physical Christian County squad on its home floor for a chance to play in Saturday’s championship. 

Union County 9 18 30 39
Crittenden Co. 4 14 31 46
UNION – Davis 3, Bell, Steward 14, Mendoza 8, Tamayo 2, Curry 11, Byrd 1. 3-pointers 5. FT 8-11.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 13, Evans 7, Hodge 14, Federico 6, Rushing 2, Stewart 3, Holeman 1. 3-pointers 1 (Hodge). FT 21-30.