They have been one of the most consistent teams in the 2nd Region over the past few years, and now the Crittenden County Lady Rockets are headed back to the 2nd Region championship game for the third time in the past four years. But Friday night they had to fight off a game effort from the Caldwell County Lady Tigers to earn the trip to the title game.
Three Lady Rockets scored in double figures and Crittenden County did what it had to coming down to the end of the game to take a 49-38 win in Friday night’s first regional semifinal game at Hopkins County Central.
The Lady Rockets came ‘Rushing’ out of the gate, Bristyn Rushing that is. The senior center scored the first four points of the game and six of Crittenden County’s first eight points as the Lady Rockets took the early 8-4 lead.
Rushing’s early success down in the lane started to open things up on the outside for Crittenden County as Elliot Evans and Jordyn Hodge knocked down threes over the final minutes of the opening quarter to extend the Lady Rocket margin out to 16-6 at the end of one. Crittenden County scored the final six points of the quarter.
A big quarter for Bristyn Rushing, who ended up with 8 points for Crittenden County.
But then, the Lady Rockets seemed to lose their shooting eye in the second quarter as the Lady Tigers fought to stay in the game. A six-point run early in the quarter pushed the Crittenden County lead out to the biggest of the half at 22-9.
Caldwell County’s defense clamped down over the final part of the second quarter, and the Lady Tigers did the job on the boards, as they outscored the Lady Rockets 9 to 4 to trim the lead to inside of double digits at the half at 26-18.
Led by Alaiyaa Shearer’s 10 first-half rebounds, the Lady Tigers outrebounded the Lady Rockets 24 to 14 in the half and that was a big part of the reason Caldwell County was still in the game at the break. Also, after not turning the ball over in the first quarter, Crittenden County gave it up four times in the second. Caldwell County also took Bristyn Rushing out of the game in the second, holding her scoreless after an 8-point first quarter.
Tink Clark was Caldwell County’s leading scorer going into the half with seven points. Bristyn Rushing led Crittenden County with the 8 points she scored in the opening quarter.
Caldwell County carried the momentum from late in the first half over into the opening moments of the third quarter. Quick baskets from Med Thomas and Tink Clark brought the Lady Tigers to within four points at 26-22. Caldwell County might have even pulled closer to the Lady Rockets if not for their struggles at the free-throw line. The Lady Tigers went just 2 of 6 from the line over the first five minutes of the third quarter.
Bristyn Rushing, who had been held without a point since the opening quarter, gave Crittenden County a spark as the Lady Rockets went on an 8-2 run to push the lead back out to 34-24, and it looked as if Crittenden County was about to make its move and pull away.
However, the Lady Tigers were not about to let this one get away just that easy. Tink Clark made four late free throws in the third to help pull Caldwell County to within 35-28 heading into the final eight minutes.
An Audrey McCoy steal and layup to open the final quarter brought Caldwell County to within 35-30 and brought the Lady Tiger faithful to their feet.
With the score at 36-30, Elliot Evans hit a three from the right corner, followed by Jordyn Hodge scoring off a Caldwell County turnover, as Crittenden County got a quick burst to push the lead back out to double figures at 41-30. That 5-point mini-run would turn out to be the biggest stretch of the game for the Lady Rockets.
Caldwell County would not be able to get any closer than eight points the rest of the way as the Lady Rockets could finally start making their plans to head back to Mortons Gap Saturday night.
Crittenden County got 16 points each from Jordyn Hodge and Bristyn Rushing. Rushing ended up with a double-double, adding 16 rebounds to her total. Elliot Evans, who knocked down a dagger three in the fourth quarter, also hit double digits with 10 points.
For Caldwell County, Tink Clark was the only player to get to double figures, finishing with 17 points. Audrey McCoy added 7 points for the Lady Tigers. Alaiyaa Shearer scored 6 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Caldwell County won the battle of the boards 36 to 29. The Lady Rocket defense forced the Lady Tigers into 13 turnovers, while Crittenden County committed 10 miscues.
Crittenden County improves to 26-5 with the win, which was the Lady Rockets’ 7th straight and 15th in their last 16 games.
Caldwell County finishes the year at 15-13. It marks the first winning season for the Lady Tigers since the 2019-2020 season, when they finished 16-15.
