It’s not often a basketball team returns its entire starting lineup for three straight seasons, but that’s the narrative in Marion as Coach Shannon Hodge looks to send her team back to the All-A-Classic State Tournament and make a run at Rupp Arena in March.
The Lady Rockets finished last season 23-8 with a run to the All A Classic state semifinals and the championship game of the Second Region Tournament.
Getting that far and then some is the goal for Crittenden County, led by All-district and All-region player Anna Boone. The rangy lefty saw her scoring dip a bit last year as she became more of a facilitator on offense. She still averaged 14.5 points and shot 35 percent behind the arc.
Boone looks to join Taylor Guess in the Lady Rocket 2,000-point club, entering the season with 1,754 points.
The Lady Rockets also return Jordyn Hodge (10.8 ppg.), the coach’s daughter, and Elliot Evans (9.1 ppg.), who needs 68 points for 1,000.
Andrea Federico (7.3 ppg., 5 rebs), and Bristyn Rushing (6.0 ppg., 4.3 rebs) also return for Crittenden County, as does Morgan Stewart (5 points, 4 rebounds).
Hodge had nine players who saw action in 20 or more games last year, which see feels will pay off this season.
“I feel we will be able to go deeper into our bench this year. Everyone on our team gained valuable experience this summer and throughout the preseason,” she said. “We have nine people that I believe should be able to play in different situations, but I am confident we will be deeper.”
Defense and rebounding are two traits Hodge always teaches and will again determine the success of this year’s squad.
Hodge has beefed up the Lady Rockets’ December schedule in an attempt to prepare her team for both the All A Classic and the region tournaments. Crittenden will play First Region powers Marshall County (Dec. 4), McCracken County (Dec. 9), and Calloway County (Dec. 13), as well as a Breckinridge County team that won 22 games last season and returns five of its top six scorers.
Also in December is the first of what could be five matchups with district rival Lyon County this season.
“We are going to waste no time seeing what we are made of. I wanted to be challenged early, so we are experiencing the level of competition that will prepare us to reach our goals for the All A Classic in January as well as the postseason,” Hodge said. “I think being put in those situations night in and night out will help us grow as basketball players, but also in life. Facing a challenge, learning from success or adversity, growing relationships that help you meet the challenge of that daily fight – that is really what it is all about.”
Crittenden County opens its 2025-26 season at home on Tuesday against former Fifth District rival Caldwell County.
