BOYS' ALL A CLASSIC
Tuesday's opening round
University Heights 74, Dawson Springs 54
Livingston Central 65, Providence 60
Crittenden County 90, Ft. Campbell 36
Lyon County 67, Trigg County 62
Thursday's Semis at Trigg
UHA 74, Livingston Central 50
Lyon County 70, Crittenden County 54
Saturday's Championship at Trigg
Lyon County 67, University Heights 58, OT
ROCKETS FIND OFFENSE JUST
IN TIME FOR CLASSIC WIN
Croft regains touch from 3-point range
Payton Croft photo by Bob Campbell
If there was ever a twinge of doubt
in anyone's mind about the Rockets' ability to complete the basic
premise of basketball, which is to put the orange ball through
the orange cylinder, forget it.Crittenden's awesome offensive performance to open the All A Classic at Fort Campbell Tuesday night put all minds at ease, including Coach Jimmy Croft's as the Rockets whipped the Falcons 90-36.
Croft never questioned his team's raw ability to score points, but he was keenly aware of how feeble the boys' psyche would be after a downright pitiful shooting performance last weekend against Lyon County.
"It was like two completely different basketball teams," Croft said in comparing Tuesday's small-school tournament win to the team's first Fifth District loss of the year three days earlier against Lyon.
Crittenden bounced back from a 33-percent shooting performance to pour in 34-of-58 against Fort Campbell. For those who struggle with numbers, that's right at 60 percent.
Crittenden didn't struggle at all from the field. Payton Croft made up for a scoreless performance against Lyon, giving dad (a.k.a. Coach Croft) something to smile about this time. The sophomore point guard missed just one 3-point attempt, making five and scoring a team-high 17 points.
Tim Hill was 2-for-3 from long range and added 16 points. Two more players finished in double figures, including freshman T.K. Guess with 11 and Zack Beverly with 13. Beverly dominated inside play for the few minutes he was in the game. After the contest was well in hand, Croft allowed Beverly to take a much-needed break. The senior forward had received several stitches to close a cut over his eye, an injury sustained late in the Lyon game.
The 90 points were a season high for the Rockets and they could not have come at a better time. Getting out of the offensive funk that set in last weekend was particularly imperative for Crittenden, which has a rematch with those same Lyons Thursday.
Crittenden will play Lyon County for the third time this season and the second time in five days as the two square off in tonight's Class A tournament semifinal round at Trigg County. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.
Crittenden beat Lyon County in their first meeting at Eddyville, but needed overtime to do it. Now, with a trip to Richmond and the Class A Second Region title perhaps hanging in the balance, this rubber game holds high stakes.
GAME SUMMARY
Crittenden Co. 22 20 24 24
Fort Campbell 8 7 10 11
CRITTENDEN (90) - Easley, Parker 9, Thompson 7, Lanham 4, Croft 17, Guess 11, Moss 4, Hill 16, Robinson 5, Hart 4, Beverly 13, Findley. FT 14-17. Fouls 13. 3-Pointers 9 (Croft 5, Hill 2, Guess, Parker).
FORT CAMPBELL (36) - Washington 6, Thomas 6, Rogers 1, Love 13, Wederski 4, Johnson 2, Miller 4. FT 8-12. Fouls 13. 3-Pointers none.