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SUMMIT As the weekend’s winter storm approached, plenty of meteorologists were making predictions, analyzing data, and adjusting said predictions.
For the folks who went to Roger Zornes Gymnasium for Friday’s matchup between Ashland and Boyd County, a similar seesaw of predictions could’ve been made based on the fluctuation of gameplay.
The Tomcats rushed out to an early 9-0 lead that looked to set the tone for a possible runaway. The Lions then fought back to tie it up at the start of the second quarter, but by halftime Ashland led by 13. Two minutes and change into the final frame, Boyd County held a three-point advantage.
But, in the final five minutes of play, the game’s forecast shifted one last time.
The Tomcats refused to let victory fall from their grasp, as a 14-6 surge lifted Ashland back out in front, where it remained en route to a 93-86 victory.
t’s that 'bend, but don’t break' mentality,” Ashland coach Ryan Bonner said. “Boyd made their run, especially early in the third quarter, but our guys didn’t get rattled. We maintained our composure and we made big plays at big times. We came up with the stops, we came up with the rebounds, and we came up with the buckets when we needed to. Tonight tells me that we’ve taken a step forward in being able to manage those end-of-game situations.”
Boyd County’s defense allowed ample opportunity for Ashland to find its rhythm early, but the Lions shifted their approach to be tighter in the second half.
While that adjustment, along with a lights-out shooting performance from Jacob Spurlock, opened the door for Boyd County to flip the game, it wasn’t enough to seal the deal.
“The first half really was the difference,” Boyd County coach Randy Anderson said. “We didn't guard like we'd been guarding. We gave them way too many uncontested 3s. Second half, we were us, and it felt like we got after it. Defense was a focus, and because of that, we got some stops. When that happens, then we have really good flow on the offensive end. I felt like Ashland shot the ball extremely well tonight, and they made free throws there at the end.”
Spurlock finished with a game-high 44 points in the contest, 20 of which came in the game’s final frame.
Ashland was led down the stretch by Elijah Neel who posted 12 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers, the last of which broke a 79-79 tie with less than three minutes remaining.
Neel led the Tomcats in scoring with 30.
“It starts with our point guard play; Elijah Neel just knows and understands who to get the ball to and when to get it to them,” Bonner said. “He knows when to create for himself, he knows when to give it up and try to create something for somebody else. I credit a lot of that to our point guard play. He's very savvy. I think tonight was a really good moment for Elijah because it’s going to help progress him as a leader of our team.”
The tie at 79-all was the closest the Lions would get in the waning minutes of the contest.
Drew Smith came up clutch for the Tomcats at the free throw line late, hitting all five of his fourth quarter trips to the charity stripe.
After the Tomcats opened the game with three unanswered baskets, all from 3-point land, it looked like Boyd County was going to be playing from behind for quite some time.
By the beginning of the second quarter, however, the Lions had knotted the game with the first basket of the frame.
“We know who their shooters are, and we've done a really good job lately about being focused,” Anderson said. “When you have really good shooters, you can't just be there. You've got to contest and you've got to make them put that thing on the deck and get it another way. Our guys know that and they're very coachable and respond to that. In the second half, (Ashland) didn't have too many clean looks. But again, they shot the ball extremely well. We'll go back and watch the film. We have a big weekend coming up with Paris and Male and we'll just see how we respond.”
But Ashland didn’t let that stand for long.
The Tomcats put up 27 points, including a 12-0 run in the heart of the quarter, in the eight minutes before halftime to take a 13-point advantage into the locker room.
Neel recorded 11 points for the visiting squad in the frame, including a pair of treys.
Once again, it looked like the Lions might get left behind, but an 11-2 run coupled with Ashland not making a field goal until the 5:23 mark of the frame got the home team right back into the thick of things.
“We don't go out any night just to compete, we go out to win,” Anderson said. “But the bottom line is that, Lord willing, we'll get (Ashland) two more times during the season. It was a good game and a good atmosphere. That’s about what it is.”
Ashland’s offense was highlighted by efficiency in shot selection. Caleb Clarke made eight of his nine 2-point attempts, while Neel sank all but one of his seven 2-point shots.
Offensive ball movement and unselfish play have been hallmarks for the Tomcats team, according to Bonner. He hopes to see that aspect grow coming out of the night’s victory.
“The unselfish play… I think we have to continue to emphasize that,” Bonner said. “We also have to continue to emphasize the defensive end of the floor, really fighting to get a stop when we need it most. At the end of the day, it's all about: can we get these guys playing their best when it matters? I loved our response tonight.”
ASHLAND FG FT REB TP
Neel 10-12 4-5 5 30
Smith 7-14 7-7 2 26
Hughes 7-11 2-2 2 19
Clarke 8-11 0-1 8 16
Owens 1-7 0-0 7 2
TEAM 5
TOTAL 33-55 13-15 29 93
FG Pct.: 60. FT Pct.: 86.6. 3-pointers: 14-24 (Neel 6-7, Smith 5-8, Hughes 3-6, Owens 0-1, Clarke 0-2). PF: 9. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 6.
BOYD CO. FG FT REB TP
Spurlock 16-28 3-4 13 44
Payne 7-16 2-3 2 17
Woods 4-10 2-2 2 10
Rimmer 5-7 0-0 5 10
Rardon 1-3 0-0 5 3
Huff 1-3 0-0 0 2
TEAM 5
TOTAL 34-67 7-9 32 86
FG Pct.: 50.7. FT Pct.: 77.7. 3-pointers: 11-27 (Spurlock 9-15, Rardon 1-2, Payne 1-4, Huff 0-2, Woods 0-4). PF: 13. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 3.
ASHLAND 21 27 16 29 — 93
BOYD CO. 19 16 25 26 — 86
Officials: Jordan Jobe, Kenneth Kegley, Maurio McKissick.
(606) 326-2658 |
[email protected]
Continue reading...
For the folks who went to Roger Zornes Gymnasium for Friday’s matchup between Ashland and Boyd County, a similar seesaw of predictions could’ve been made based on the fluctuation of gameplay.
The Tomcats rushed out to an early 9-0 lead that looked to set the tone for a possible runaway. The Lions then fought back to tie it up at the start of the second quarter, but by halftime Ashland led by 13. Two minutes and change into the final frame, Boyd County held a three-point advantage.
But, in the final five minutes of play, the game’s forecast shifted one last time.
The Tomcats refused to let victory fall from their grasp, as a 14-6 surge lifted Ashland back out in front, where it remained en route to a 93-86 victory.
t’s that 'bend, but don’t break' mentality,” Ashland coach Ryan Bonner said. “Boyd made their run, especially early in the third quarter, but our guys didn’t get rattled. We maintained our composure and we made big plays at big times. We came up with the stops, we came up with the rebounds, and we came up with the buckets when we needed to. Tonight tells me that we’ve taken a step forward in being able to manage those end-of-game situations.”
Boyd County’s defense allowed ample opportunity for Ashland to find its rhythm early, but the Lions shifted their approach to be tighter in the second half.
While that adjustment, along with a lights-out shooting performance from Jacob Spurlock, opened the door for Boyd County to flip the game, it wasn’t enough to seal the deal.
“The first half really was the difference,” Boyd County coach Randy Anderson said. “We didn't guard like we'd been guarding. We gave them way too many uncontested 3s. Second half, we were us, and it felt like we got after it. Defense was a focus, and because of that, we got some stops. When that happens, then we have really good flow on the offensive end. I felt like Ashland shot the ball extremely well tonight, and they made free throws there at the end.”
Spurlock finished with a game-high 44 points in the contest, 20 of which came in the game’s final frame.
Ashland was led down the stretch by Elijah Neel who posted 12 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers, the last of which broke a 79-79 tie with less than three minutes remaining.
Neel led the Tomcats in scoring with 30.
“It starts with our point guard play; Elijah Neel just knows and understands who to get the ball to and when to get it to them,” Bonner said. “He knows when to create for himself, he knows when to give it up and try to create something for somebody else. I credit a lot of that to our point guard play. He's very savvy. I think tonight was a really good moment for Elijah because it’s going to help progress him as a leader of our team.”
The tie at 79-all was the closest the Lions would get in the waning minutes of the contest.
Drew Smith came up clutch for the Tomcats at the free throw line late, hitting all five of his fourth quarter trips to the charity stripe.
After the Tomcats opened the game with three unanswered baskets, all from 3-point land, it looked like Boyd County was going to be playing from behind for quite some time.
By the beginning of the second quarter, however, the Lions had knotted the game with the first basket of the frame.
“We know who their shooters are, and we've done a really good job lately about being focused,” Anderson said. “When you have really good shooters, you can't just be there. You've got to contest and you've got to make them put that thing on the deck and get it another way. Our guys know that and they're very coachable and respond to that. In the second half, (Ashland) didn't have too many clean looks. But again, they shot the ball extremely well. We'll go back and watch the film. We have a big weekend coming up with Paris and Male and we'll just see how we respond.”
But Ashland didn’t let that stand for long.
The Tomcats put up 27 points, including a 12-0 run in the heart of the quarter, in the eight minutes before halftime to take a 13-point advantage into the locker room.
Neel recorded 11 points for the visiting squad in the frame, including a pair of treys.
Once again, it looked like the Lions might get left behind, but an 11-2 run coupled with Ashland not making a field goal until the 5:23 mark of the frame got the home team right back into the thick of things.
“We don't go out any night just to compete, we go out to win,” Anderson said. “But the bottom line is that, Lord willing, we'll get (Ashland) two more times during the season. It was a good game and a good atmosphere. That’s about what it is.”
Ashland’s offense was highlighted by efficiency in shot selection. Caleb Clarke made eight of his nine 2-point attempts, while Neel sank all but one of his seven 2-point shots.
Offensive ball movement and unselfish play have been hallmarks for the Tomcats team, according to Bonner. He hopes to see that aspect grow coming out of the night’s victory.
“The unselfish play… I think we have to continue to emphasize that,” Bonner said. “We also have to continue to emphasize the defensive end of the floor, really fighting to get a stop when we need it most. At the end of the day, it's all about: can we get these guys playing their best when it matters? I loved our response tonight.”
ASHLAND FG FT REB TP
Neel 10-12 4-5 5 30
Smith 7-14 7-7 2 26
Hughes 7-11 2-2 2 19
Clarke 8-11 0-1 8 16
Owens 1-7 0-0 7 2
TEAM 5
TOTAL 33-55 13-15 29 93
FG Pct.: 60. FT Pct.: 86.6. 3-pointers: 14-24 (Neel 6-7, Smith 5-8, Hughes 3-6, Owens 0-1, Clarke 0-2). PF: 9. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 6.
BOYD CO. FG FT REB TP
Spurlock 16-28 3-4 13 44
Payne 7-16 2-3 2 17
Woods 4-10 2-2 2 10
Rimmer 5-7 0-0 5 10
Rardon 1-3 0-0 5 3
Huff 1-3 0-0 0 2
TEAM 5
TOTAL 34-67 7-9 32 86
FG Pct.: 50.7. FT Pct.: 77.7. 3-pointers: 11-27 (Spurlock 9-15, Rardon 1-2, Payne 1-4, Huff 0-2, Woods 0-4). PF: 13. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 3.
ASHLAND 21 27 16 29 — 93
BOYD CO. 19 16 25 26 — 86
Officials: Jordan Jobe, Kenneth Kegley, Maurio McKissick.
(606) 326-2658 |
[email protected]
Continue reading...
