COVID-19 levied a fateful hammer on Crittenden County‘s 2020–21 girls’ basketball season. A positive test and quarantine the weekend before the start of the district tournament saw the Lady Rockets’ season come to an unceremonious and premature end with a 16-5 record.
While Crittenden County lost six seniors and much of its frontcourt to graduation, they return one of the top players in the region as they try and bounce back both physically and mentally from last season.
Junior Taylor guess had a breakthrough season that saw her average 19.6 points and earn a spot on the all-region team. She has done nothing to dissuade her preseason accolades, scoring 49 points in a scrimmage against Ballard Memorial over the weekend.
“Taylor had a great year last season and could score inside, from long-range, and off the bounce,” Coach Shannon Hodge said. “Taylor will have the primary ballhandling responsibilities and she’s gotten physically stronger. I expect her to lead us in scoring and rebounding again this year.”
Fellow junior Natalie Boone began last season in the backcourt but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury six games into the season, and the Lady Rockets missed her outside shooting as a complement to Guess.
“Natalie is back on the court and I expect her game to steadily get stronger. Her basketball IQ improved tremendously having to watch for much of last year.”
With much of the experience in the frontcourt lost to graduation, senior Grace Driskell and junior Addie Hatfield will be expected to step in and carry the load.
“Grace is long and can be a great defender,” Hodge said.
Driskell didn’t play last year but saw action in 20 games as a sophomore.
Hodge called Hatfield the team’s best post offender and a good rebounder.
Hodge will also be looking to sophomores Jaylen Tapp and Hannah Long to provide valuable minutes in the frontcourt. Hodges is also very high on an eighth-grade class that will see plenty of time on the varsity floor this year.
Anna Boone and Elliot Evans saw varsity time at the guard spot over the summer, and Chloe Hunt and Elle McDaniel will also give the Lady Rocket some early depth.
Hodge is also eager to watch the development of Georigia Holeman, Andrea Federico, and Bristyn Rushing.
“I think we will be a work in progress this season. Our eighth graders are playing both their middle school season and practicing with us when they can,” Hodge said. “We will rely on them heavily. Our strengths will become more apparent with time but we should be a fun team to watch as we look to play up-tempo this year.
Crittenden County opens its season Tuesday night by hosting University Heights Academy.
