Lady Rockets 6 wins from tying school record

Sophomore Jordyn Hodge is closing in
on a personal milestone of her own.

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County used a strong second quarter and a disciplined finish Tuesday night to pull away from a quality Hopkins Central team, a performance that also served as a measuring stick heading into an even more demanding test later in the week.

The Lady Rockets, now 19-4, defeated Hopkins Central Lady Storm 55-41 in a matchup of two teams that expect to be playing deep into the postseason. Hopkins Central fell to 17-9 but continued to show why it has been a consensus top-four team in the Second Region in recent seasons and a possible regional tournament rematch for Crittenden County.

Hopkins Central’s résumé includes losses to some of the best teams in western Kentucky, including Marshall County, Calloway County, McCracken County and Lyon County; along with setbacks to strong programs from elsewhere in the state during holiday tournaments, including Cooper from the Greater Cincinnati area, Louisville Manual, Rowan County and Bishop Brossart, which entered the week with 23 wins. Since 2020, the Lady Storm is 2-6 against Crittenden County.

Crittenden senior Elliot Evans was sidelined most of the first half by two early fouls, but Crittenden County leaned on its balance, particularly now that senior Chloe Hunt is once again available after coming off a lengthy injury. Hopkins Central struggled to convert around the basket, and the Lady Rockets took control with a 27-point second quarter. Back-to-back corner 3-pointers by Hunt and Anna Boone helped stretch the lead, and sophomore Jordyn Hodge capped the half with another triple from the same spot as Crittenden went to the locker room ahead 27-16.

Hopkins Central matched Crittenden shot for shot early in the third quarter and trimmed the margin to eight, but the Lady Rockets answered each push. With about six minutes remaining and holding a 10-point lead, Crittenden deliberately slowed the pace, working deeper into possessions and forcing Hopkins Central to play faster on offense. The strategy produced empty trips for the Lady Storm and allowed the margin to steadily grow down the stretch.

Boone finished with 20 points, Hodge added 19.

Hodge continues to close in on 1,000 career points, which would make her the team’s third to eclipse that milestone. Boone has already surpassed 2,000 for her career, while Evans reached the 1,000-point mark earlier this season. 

The win moves Crittenden County Lady Rockets within six victories of tying the program’s single-season wins record, set previously in 2017 and 2023.

Attention now turns quickly to Thursday night, when the Lady Rockets travel to face Henderson County Lady Colonels in one of the most anticipated games of the regular season. The two programs met in last year’s Second Region championship, a 66-31 Henderson County win that secured the Lady Colonels’ seventh regional title in a row and 18th in 21 years. Crittenden County owns one of the few championships Henderson missed, winning the region in 2011.

Henderson County enters the matchup after a seven-point road win Tuesday at Lyon County, just days after the Lyons knocked off previously undefeated Calloway County, ranked No. 4 in Kentucky, a result that illustrates the challenge awaiting Crittenden County later this week.

Hopkins Central 8 16 30 41
Crittenden County 9 27 39 55
HOPKINS – White 4, Marsh 5, Menser 17, Mason 8, Liles 2, Dulin 5. FG 13. 3-pointers 6 (Marsh, Menser 3, Mason 2). FT 9-14.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 20, Evans 5, Hodge 19, Federico 4, Rushing 4, Holeman, Hunt 3. FG 13. 3-pointers 7 (Boone 2, Evans, Hodge 3, Hunt). FT 18-22.