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03-03-2012, 08:55 PM
16th Region at Johnson Arena, Morehead State
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2009/12/02/10403...rylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2009/12/02/10403...rylink=cpy
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03-04-2012, 11:25 AM
MOREHEAD — Corey Gregg’s three-goggles are giving him X-ray vision from behind the arc.
Ashland’s superman senior was at it again Saturday at the 16th Region Tournament.
Three nights after his 3-pointer helped propel the Tomcats into the semifinals, it was bombs away again for Gregg who scored 35 points in a 74-54 victory over East Carter in Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
Gregg, better known for his shooting and passing from the post, has found an outside stroke much to his liking. He made three of four shots from 3-point range.
“I’m having fun out here,” Gregg said. “That’s why I was yelling after I hit that three against Fleming County. It was the first three I took that game.”
Gregg connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the first quarter and start the second quarter. He added another layup and the Tomcats were ahead 31-14. The Raiders were never able to get the advantage under double figures.
“He’s perfectly capable of doing that,” said Ashland coach Buddy Biggs of Gregg’s sudden 3-point surge. “He had a great game; he can’t play much better.”
East Carter coach Brandon Baker knew it was trouble when the Tomcats’ perimeter game was red-hot early. Ashland made five-of-eight treys in the first quarter and 7-of-15 for the game.
“They came out and made shots early,” Baker said. “It kept us from doing a lot of the things that would have given us a chance. When their perimeter shooters are making shots, it makes it harder to help (on Gregg). He knows how to score the ball and he passes it well, too.”
The fast start was by design, Biggs said. “It’s something we preached and talked about. We thought if we got out early we could make them play our way.”
The Tomcats dictated the tempo and advanced to a regional championship rematch with Rowan County, which dispatched West Carter 47-38 in the first semifinal. The Vikings defeated Ashland in last year’s regional championship.
Ashland hasn’t won a region title since 2002 — a 10-year span where the Tomcats have been in the regional finals four times.
“This is the 10th anniversary (of the last region title),” said senior Ryan Whetsel. “We’re going to put an end to that.”
Whetsel and the Tomcats remember well what happened last season when the Vikings not only won the regional title in a tense game but advanced to the state championship game before falling.
“We were so close, a call or a play going the other way,” he said. “That’s how close it was.”
Rowan County and Ashland split two decisions during the regular season both on the Tomcats’ floor. The Vikings defeated Ashland in the semifinals of the Ashland Invitational Tournament and then fell 73-58 on Senior Night.
“It’s going to be fun,” Gregg said of the rematch. “I talk to Adam (Wing) and D.J. (Townsend) all the time. We play as hard as we can against each other.”
East Carter (15-17) played fairly even with the Tomcats after falling behind 31-14 as Connor Robinson and Kyle Stewart combined for 29 points. But the Raiders never really threatened Ashland’s lead.
“They seemed to turn it back up a notch and make a big basket,” Baker said. “They had an answer for everything we did.”
Gregg scored all nine of Ashland’s points in the second quarter and his third 3-pointer staked the Tomcats to a 65-46 lead in the fourth quarter. He had nine points in the first and second quarters, eight in the third quarter and nine in the fourth quarter.
“The first and third quarter were key,” Biggs said. “We played our way. Anytime we have a 20-plus quarter we’re feeling good.”
Ashland scored 26 in the first quarter and 21 in the third quarter.
“We came out on fire,” Whetsel said. “I think we didn’t hit them so well on Wednesday (against Fleming County) because we hadn’t played here since last year. One we got the feel again and got used to it, we got comfortable.”
None more comfortable than Gregg, who was 13 of 18 from the field. He also had 14 rebounds in a super-sized effort that has the Tomcats back in the finals. Ashland (23-11) also made 19 of 25 free throws.
“When you’re scoring the ball, it makes it more enjoyable,” Biggs said.
Baker didn’t want to pick a favorite in Monday’s final. “I wouldn’t be surprised if either team wins it,” he said of the Ashland-Rowan championship.http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...great-gain
Ashland’s superman senior was at it again Saturday at the 16th Region Tournament.
Three nights after his 3-pointer helped propel the Tomcats into the semifinals, it was bombs away again for Gregg who scored 35 points in a 74-54 victory over East Carter in Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
Gregg, better known for his shooting and passing from the post, has found an outside stroke much to his liking. He made three of four shots from 3-point range.
“I’m having fun out here,” Gregg said. “That’s why I was yelling after I hit that three against Fleming County. It was the first three I took that game.”
Gregg connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the first quarter and start the second quarter. He added another layup and the Tomcats were ahead 31-14. The Raiders were never able to get the advantage under double figures.
“He’s perfectly capable of doing that,” said Ashland coach Buddy Biggs of Gregg’s sudden 3-point surge. “He had a great game; he can’t play much better.”
East Carter coach Brandon Baker knew it was trouble when the Tomcats’ perimeter game was red-hot early. Ashland made five-of-eight treys in the first quarter and 7-of-15 for the game.
“They came out and made shots early,” Baker said. “It kept us from doing a lot of the things that would have given us a chance. When their perimeter shooters are making shots, it makes it harder to help (on Gregg). He knows how to score the ball and he passes it well, too.”
The fast start was by design, Biggs said. “It’s something we preached and talked about. We thought if we got out early we could make them play our way.”
The Tomcats dictated the tempo and advanced to a regional championship rematch with Rowan County, which dispatched West Carter 47-38 in the first semifinal. The Vikings defeated Ashland in last year’s regional championship.
Ashland hasn’t won a region title since 2002 — a 10-year span where the Tomcats have been in the regional finals four times.
“This is the 10th anniversary (of the last region title),” said senior Ryan Whetsel. “We’re going to put an end to that.”
Whetsel and the Tomcats remember well what happened last season when the Vikings not only won the regional title in a tense game but advanced to the state championship game before falling.
“We were so close, a call or a play going the other way,” he said. “That’s how close it was.”
Rowan County and Ashland split two decisions during the regular season both on the Tomcats’ floor. The Vikings defeated Ashland in the semifinals of the Ashland Invitational Tournament and then fell 73-58 on Senior Night.
“It’s going to be fun,” Gregg said of the rematch. “I talk to Adam (Wing) and D.J. (Townsend) all the time. We play as hard as we can against each other.”
East Carter (15-17) played fairly even with the Tomcats after falling behind 31-14 as Connor Robinson and Kyle Stewart combined for 29 points. But the Raiders never really threatened Ashland’s lead.
“They seemed to turn it back up a notch and make a big basket,” Baker said. “They had an answer for everything we did.”
Gregg scored all nine of Ashland’s points in the second quarter and his third 3-pointer staked the Tomcats to a 65-46 lead in the fourth quarter. He had nine points in the first and second quarters, eight in the third quarter and nine in the fourth quarter.
“The first and third quarter were key,” Biggs said. “We played our way. Anytime we have a 20-plus quarter we’re feeling good.”
Ashland scored 26 in the first quarter and 21 in the third quarter.
“We came out on fire,” Whetsel said. “I think we didn’t hit them so well on Wednesday (against Fleming County) because we hadn’t played here since last year. One we got the feel again and got used to it, we got comfortable.”
None more comfortable than Gregg, who was 13 of 18 from the field. He also had 14 rebounds in a super-sized effort that has the Tomcats back in the finals. Ashland (23-11) also made 19 of 25 free throws.
“When you’re scoring the ball, it makes it more enjoyable,” Biggs said.
Baker didn’t want to pick a favorite in Monday’s final. “I wouldn’t be surprised if either team wins it,” he said of the Ashland-Rowan championship.http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...great-gain
03-04-2012, 11:26 AM
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