Lady Rockets claim another district championship

MARION, Ky. – The threes weren’t falling early. Andrea Federico was glued to the bench with foul trouble. Lyon County had the momentum and a nine-point cushion in the second quarter.

And yet, by the time the final horn sounded, Crittenden County was doing what it so often does in late February, cutting down nets. This time on its own court where the Lady Rockets finished 13-0 this season and 40-4 over the past four.

Bristyn Rushing and Adri Berry wrestle
for a round in the title tilt.

The Lady Rockets overcame a frigid start from behind the arc and rode a fourth-quarter surge from Elliott Evans to a 58-52 victory over Lyon County in the Fifth District championship game. It marked Crittenden’s second straight district title and fourth in the past five seasons.

Recent history between the two programs suggested nothing less than a battle. In the past decade, the district final has swung back and forth with Lyon winning in 2015, 2016 and 2024; Crittenden claiming crowns in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2025. Thursday night added another chapter.

Crittenden (24-5), which had won four straight entering the game, struggled offensively from the outset. The Lady Rockets – statistically the most prolific 3-point shooting team in program history with nearly 200 makes this season – misfired repeatedly from deep. Evans missed her first four attempts from beyond the arc, and Lyon’s chasers confounded Anna Boone and Jordyn Hodge.

Federico picked up two early fouls in the first quarter, forcing coach Shannon Hodge to adjust rotations. Without her interior presence, Lyon’s Piper Cotham found space and poured in 29 points. The Lady Lyons (25-7), who had won six straight, led 23-14 during a 14-0 second-quarter run and carried a 28-21 edge into halftime.

Elliot Evans and Jordyn Hodge (11) fighting for
loose ball with Lyon's Trinity Taylor

“We didn’t shoot the three ball very well tonight,” said Hodge, in her 33rd season. “It was kind of rushed I think. They really covered up Jordyn and Anna. Thank goodness we got in sync down the stretch when we needed it. Elliott carried us in the fourth quarter with two big threes and drove and scored a couple of times.”

Crittenden began chipping away in the third. Boone and senior Bristyn Rushing scored inside, and Federico returned to steady the lineup. Still, Lyon led 37-33 entering the fourth.

That’s when Evans helped to flip the script.

“Going into the fourth quarter we were down by four and Jordyn and Anna were getting face-guarded so I knew I had to step up and start making shots and I just got on a roll,” said Evans, one of four-year senior starters on the team.

She scored 12 of her 15 points in the final period, including two clutch 3-pointers and a couple of attacking drives. With 5:25 left, her deep left-wing three gave Crittenden a 43-41 lead.

From there, the Lady Rockets did what champions do. They protected the ball, moved with purpose and converted at the line.

Crittenden shot 13 of 16 from the free-throw stripe in the fourth quarter and 28 of 33 for the game. Boone finished with 17 points, Hodge added 16 and Rushing had eight.

Lyon’s chances dimmed when Piper Cotham fouled out with 1:07 remaining and Trinity Taylor followed moments later. Crittenden calmly played keep-away and sealed the outcome with steady foul resolve.

Give the Lady Rockets a lead inside the final three minutes and they turn clinical, valuing every possession, spacing the floor, stepping to the line with poise and squeezing the air out of the game. Thursday night was another textbook example, even on a night when the three-point stroke that has defined this era refused to cooperate.

Anna Boone plays defense on Trinity Taylor

Focus now shifts to the Second Region Tournament next week. The draw will be held Saturday to determine quarterfinal matchups, with district winners matched against runners-up in the opening round. Quarterfinal games are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, with semifinals set for Friday and Saturday at Hopkins Central. District champions entering the bracket are Christian County, Hopkins Central, Henderson County and Crittenden County. The runners-up are Webster County, Caldwell County, Hopkinsville and Lyon County.

Lyon County 13 28 37 52
Crittenden Co 14 21 33 58
LYON – Taylor 6, P.Cotham 29, Collins 6, Defew 2, Coursey, S.Cotham 1, Coffman 6, Perry 2. FG 17. 3-pointers 3 (P.Cotham, Collins, Coffman). FT 13-16.
CRITTENDEN – Boone 17, Evans 15, Hodge 16, Federico 2, Rushing 8, Berry, Champion, Hunt. FG 14. 3-pointers 4 (Evans 2, Boone, Hodge). FT 28-33.