Nick's night

Rocket senior Nick Parker scored 24

Rockets give Rogers
35, but steal crown
jewel at end of game

Lyon County basketball prodigy Ty Rogers might have the attention of college recruiters from Eastern Kentucky to UNLV, but Tuesday night he couldn't even get a ticket to the post-game celebration.

While everyone in the gym was cooing about Rogers' gaudy 35-point performance, it was Crittenden County senior Nick Parker who stole the show in a Rocket victory.
Parker was everywhere he needed to be ­ and especially down the stretch ­ scoring a career-high 24 points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds. He also scored six of Crittenden's final seven points, including a go-ahead putback with 10 seconds left.

Fittingly, it was Rogers who had the ball with the game in the balance in the final seconds and his team down by two. However, a lean-in, off-balance 3-point attempt missed its mark and a putback attempt was no good, giving the Rockets a key Fifth District win, 63-61, at Eddyville.

The victory was especially sweet for the Rockets, who were coming off a three-game skid in an otherwise record-setting start.

"This was a good win," Rocket coach Jimmy Croft said after the game. One could sense that he meant that in more ways than one.

Beating Lyon County on its own floor will have a force-multiplying effect for the Rockets. It not only gives Crittenden an early edge in the district race (Lyon has already defeated Trigg, another contender), but the victory also helped stoke the Rockets' battered ego back to full flame after a disappointing weekend at the Daviess County Holiday Tournament.
"We got our confidence back," Croft said. "Our kids' heads got down at Owensboro, so this is great to get back close to home where we can get some calls."

His boys were beaten down by closely-called fouls at the holiday tournament, Croft said. Against Lyon County, the Rockets came out with a vengeance. Crittenden took an early lead as Zac Beverly and Parker combined for 16 of the team's first 21 points. The Rockets led by three after one quarter and by two, 35-33, at the half. However, Lyon went on a 12-0 run in the third to take charge 50-41 early in the final period.

From there, Rogers tried to outscore Crittenden himself, but it was Parker and the Rockets who did a number on the scoreboard. Parker netted 14 of his points in the final period, partly thanks to the fact that he moved off of Rogers defensively, turning that chore over to Payton Croft.

While Rogers posted up the shorter defender a couple of times, Croft's perimeter harassment befuddle the Lyon stalwart, especially in the game's last seconds. Croft and Brad Hart converged on Rogers just in front of the time line, forcing him to pick up his dribble and take a desperation shot with time running out.

"He reversed his dribble and did a head fake trying to get (Hart) off his feet, but we'd been working on not getting in the air and fouling," Payton Croft said. "That forced (Rogers) to just put up a shot, hoping to get fouled."

Parker says despite the team's three losses leading up to the Lyon County game, this club is for real.

"We win when it counts," he said. "We were sick of losing after Daviess County so we just stepped it up. This team steps up when it has to and tonight we played with our hearts."

CRITTENDEN (63) - Hunt 2, Parker 24, Thompson 4, Lanham, Croft 3, Hill 5, Robinson 1, Hart 3, Beverly 18, Findley 3. Field goals 23-47, 3-Pointers 2-5 (Parker, Findley). FT 15-25. Fouls 15. Rebounds 30 (Parker 6). Turnovers 9.

LYON COUNTY (61) - Rogers 35, Watson 4, Akridge, McLeod 14, Burgdolf 6, Wilson 2, Travis. Field goals 25-55, 3-Pointers 3-8 (Rogers 2, Watson). FT 8-11. Fouls 20. Rebounds 35 (Rogers 11). Turnovers 13.

SELECTED STATS
Crittenden: Nick Parker 8-for-14 from the field, 7-for-8 at line, 1-for-2 on 3-pointers; Beverly 8-for-12 from field.
Lyon: Rogers 14-for-30 from field, 2-for-5 on 3-pointers and 5-for-6 at the line.