The Crittenden County Lady Rockets won an All A Classic region title and a game at the state tournament for the first time in three years in 2023-24.
With its entire roster returning in 2024-25, the Lady Rockets now want to do the same in the Second Region. Shannon Hodge enters her 32nd season as Lady Rocket head coach and says this may be her most talented team ever.
“Talent-wise, this is probably one of the most talented teams, if not the most talented all-around athletic teams I’ve ever coached,” she said. “It’s just the discipline and the maturity level and doing the things on the floor that we know we have to do, resisting putting that hand on somebody on defense, and making sure we’re disciplined to box out.”
The Lady Rockets return junior guard Anna Boone (22 ppg.), the district player of the year whose ability to hit the outside shot and drive the paint makes her a tough defensive assignment for Crittenden County’s opponents.
The Lady Rockets are also expecting another big season from junior Elliot Evans who scored nine points a game and was among the team leaders in assists and steals.
Two guards progressed last season and will be big keys for the Lady Rockets this year. Freshman Jordyn Hodge (9.5 ppg.) showed the ability to hit clutch shots, while junior Georgia Holeman (2 ppg.) can play either guard spot.
Junior Andrea Federico returns after coming through with six points and six rebounds a game last year. She along with junior Bristyn Rushing (5 ppg., 8 rebs) will be expected to provide rebounding along with Boone (5 rebs).
When you ask the players and coaches about keys to the season, they all say rebounding. Sophomore Morgan Stewart is another player who can help with that game plan.
“I think Morgan has been giving us some good minutes in the scrimmage games. She is stronger than an ox and can do some good things around the basket when she controls her body and goes out there with the right mindset,” Hodge said.
Hodge is hoping some added strength in the weight room will also pay off for her squad.
“I thought the toughness level is something that we have to really work at and the kids have gotten in the weight room, they’ve gotten stronger. We just have to play stronger. We’re physically capable of doing that, but sometimes you’ve got to develop that habit of just being a more physical player. I think the big thing is that we have to all buy in and they know that.”
The Lady Rockets are also helping to get a boost from the return of junior Chloe Hunt, who missed last year with an injury and will miss the first few weeks of this season.
“She’s not going to get to be out there at the beginning of the year this year again. She’s still working at getting back on the floor, but we believe – I’m hoping by Christmas time we’ll get her back in there and hopefully by January start playing some quality minutes for us,” Hodge said.
BIG GAMES
The Lady Rockets will play in the Marshall County HoopFest on Wednesday against Todd County Central, a team picked by many to win the 4th Region All A Classic.
Crittenden will play in the First Bank Holiday Bash at South Warren after Christmas.
In addition to the All A Classic, the Lady Rockets’ schedule features matchups with Christian County, Hopkins County Central, Henderson County, and Madisonville as part of a slate that includes 18 games against region opponents.
UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS
Hodge thinks Rushing may be the X-factor for her team in 2024-25.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in Bristyn in how she can shoot the ball and the way she can score. She’s gained some confidence this summer, but she’s got to rebound the ball like she did last year. She’s got to stay out of foul trouble and be somebody that is counting on both those categories, scoring and rebounding.”
OUTLOOK
This is a veteran Lady Rocket team that again has no seniors on its roster but may be the most experienced — top to bottom — of any squad in the region. However, this isn’t a gravy season in Marion as they look to next year when the roster is senior-dominated. The Lady Rockets have big plans for this season as they make another push to repeat as All A Classic region and get back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.
“I think we just have to try to improve every game. Basketball is such a fundamental game and it’s all about doing the little things. The teams that do the little things consistently are the teams that are going to win those big games. And that’s the team we want to be. I think that’s the team we can be. We just have to discipline ourselves to be that,” Hodge said.
