26 WINS | MOST EVER BY A CRITTENDEN COUNTY BASKETBALL TEAM
MORTON’S GAP, Ky. – For a team that has made a habit of lighting up the nets inside Hopkins County Central’s gym this season, Friday night proved to be a far different kind of challenge for Crittenden County.
Shots that had fallen here in two earlier games simply would not go down for the Lady Rockets. But when the perimeter cooled, senior center Bristyn Rushing provided the spark inside.
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| Bristyn Rushing 16 pt | 15 reb |
Rushing delivered one of the best performances of her career, and Crittenden weathered a relentless defensive effort from Caldwell County to claim a 49-38 victory in the Second Region semifinal.
Rushing finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds, her scoring total just three shy of a career high.
Crittenden improved to 26-5 with the victory, giving the Lady Rockets the undisputed winningest season in program history. Two other teams had reached 25 wins, but none had surpassed that mark until now.
There will soon be room made for a team photograph of this group back in Marion inside Rocket Arena on the western wall, displayed alongside the most celebrated teams in school history. Those oversized portraits tell stories and build legends in the gymnasium where coach Shannon Hodge has molded some of the Second Region’s best teams over the past decade and a half. Only once, however, have the Lady Rockets captured the regional championship. That came in 2011.
Now, with the program on the cusp of a third regional championship game appearance in four years and a second straight trip to the title game, the place for this team’s photograph is secure. The only question remaining is what kind of caption it will ultimately carry.
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| Lady Rocket Anna Boone fights for the block with Caldwell's Audrey McCoy |
The Lady Rockets pushed the margin to 26-12 midway through the second quarter following baskets from Hodge, Anna Boone and Georgia Holeman. But Caldwell responded with strong defensive pressure and a handful of baskets to close the half on a 6-0 run and trim the deficit to 26-18 at the break.
The Lady Tigers scored the half’s first four points and cut Crittenden’s lead to four, the closest it had been since the opening minute.
Crittenden answered behind Rushing’s steady play in the post and timely scoring from Evans and Hodge. Evans hit a key three-pointer off an inbounds play early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 39-30, and Hodge later added several clutch baskets off the dribble to help the Lady Rockets regain control.
Rushing dominated the boards for Crittenden, finishing with 15 rebounds, although Caldwell held a 36-29 advantage on the glass.
Caldwell’s length and quickness in a tight man-to-man defense consistently challenged the Lady Rockets, who missed a number of shots they typically make. The difference was particularly noticeable from three-point range. In two earlier games played in the Hopkins County Central gym this season – a win over the host Storm and the Second Region Tournament opener against Webster County – Crittenden combined to hit 22 of 45 three-point attempts. Friday night, the Lady Rockets made just three.
Hodge and Rushing led Crittenden with 16 points each, while Evans added 10.
The Lady Rockets will face Henderson County in the regional championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner advances to the state tournament at Rupp Arena.
Caldwell County 6 18 28 38
Crittenden County 16 26 35 49
CALDWELL — Clark 17, Thomas 2, Whitaker 2, Thompson 4, Shearer 6, McCoy 7. FG 15. 3-pointers 1 (Clark). FT 7-19.
CRITTENDEN — Boone 5, Evans 10, Hodge 16, Federico, Rushing 16, Holeman 2, Champion, Hunt, Berry, Grau, Kemmer, Rich. FG 16. 3-pointers 3 (Evans 2, Hodge). FT 14-20.
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