Christian County’s hopes of reaching the Girls’ Region 2 Basketball Tournament for the first time in 14 years were blown up by Anna Boone and the Crittenden County Lady Rockets Friday night at Lyle Dunbar Gym.
Boone scored 19 points in the first half and matched the Lady Colonels’ total point output the first two quarters and led Crittenden to a 63-49 Region 2 Tournament semifinal victory. The win pushes the Lady Rockets (23-7) into Saturday night’s championship game at 6 p.m. against Henderson County. The seven-time regional champion Henderson Lady Colonels rolled past Hopkins County Central 60-37 in the first semifinal contest on Friday night.
Christian County went on a 7-2 run to take a 7-2 lead with 5:42 to play in the first quarter. Crittenden coach Shannon Hodge called timeout and the Lady Rockets responded with an 11-0 run of their own to lead 13-7.
Crittenden continued to stretch its lead in the second quarter as they held the Lady Colonels to only eight second-quarter points and led 37-19 at halftime.
Christian County could not make a basket and it seemed every loose ball bounced to the Lady Rockets. The Lady Colonels’ Region 2 Player of the Year, Ne’Vaeh Day, was held to only four points in the first half and second leading scorer Anaysia Bagwell was held without a basket for the first three quarters.
The scoring drought continued for Christian County in the third quarter as Crittenden expanded its lead to 50-20. The Lady Rockets led 57-31 entering the final quarter.
Bagwell, who had made seven free throws, made her first basket with 7:05 to play. Day went down with an ankle injury, but came back and helped her team cut the final deficit to 63-49.
It was a disappointing end to a career for Day, who was held to 10 points. Bagwell led the Lady Colonels with 14 and senior Lazarie Daniel added nine.
Boone led all scorers with 24 points. Freshman Jordyn Hodge and junior Brystyn Rushing each had 12 for the Lady Rockets.
Henderson defeated Crittenden 70-60 in their only meeting this season.
Tonight’s championship game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. and airtime will be around 5:50 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm.
Score by Quarters:
Crittenden County 19 18 20 6 – 63
Christian County 11 8 12 18 – 49
Individual Scoring:
Crittenden (23-7) – Boone 24, Stewart 4, Hodge 12, Federico 9, Evans 2, Rushing 12.
Christian (18-10) – Northington 4, Bagwell 14, Day 10, Hobson 4, McGee 3, Daniel 9, Brazelton 2, Bradley 3.
3-Point Goals: Crittenden Boone 3, Hodge; Christian – Bagwell, Daniel.
Photos by Peyton Biaquis