The Craig County girls are in the region basketball tournament for the first time since 2017. The Rockets qualified for the tournament with a third place finish in last week’s Pioneer District tournament, their best since 2006 according to Craig coach Brock Jones.
“We finished third in the Pioneer and that appears to be the best finish in the district, tied multiple times, since the 2006 season,” said Jones. “Huge win for our program when we start four sophomores and a freshman, and we’ll have six juniors returning as well.”
The Rockets were scheduled to play at Fort Chiswell on Tuesday night in the first round of the Region 1C tournament. Other first round games have Eastern Montgomery at George Wythe, Galax at Narrows and Bland at Parry McCluer, who is the top seed from the Pioneer District.
“Super Proud that we managed what we have so far,” said Jones prior to the tournament. “Fort Chiswell is a really tough team, hopefully we can steal a win.”
The Rockets were at Narrows in the Pioneer District tournament semifinals last week and the Green Wave was too much for the visiting Rockets as the home team rolled to a 74-23 win.
“Not a good game at all,” said Jones. “We had 36 turnovers at halftime and we couldn’t string anything together. Pressure hurt us and it looked like we hadn’t practiced or played basketball for a year. Tough loss, as we played them tough at home early in the season.”
Kailyn Jones led Craig with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jenna Boitnette, Morgan Underwood, Daileigh Donithatn and Hayleigh Flowers all chipped in two points each.
That put Craig in the consolation game in Buena Vista against Eastern Montgomery and the Rockets pulled out a 44-36 win, avenging a prior two point loss to the Mustangs. Craig trailed 12-7 after the first quarter but bounced back by winning the second, 17-7, to take a 24-19 halftime lead.
“We played solid zone press most of the game and they just didn’t have an answer for Kailyn inside,” said coach Jones. “As we scouted and watched film we knew they were weak inside and that the game plan was to pound it inside.”
Kailyn Jones finished with 27 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks and three steals. Donithan and Kallie Fisher chipped in six points each. Brooklyn Cayton had another big night defensively with nine steals.
Craig improved to 8-12 with the win. The Rockets would have to reach the region final to make the Class 1 state tournament.
