[Stardust]

ASHLAND — West Carter coach Tex English cringed as Ashland’s Kaylyn Gambill saw a third straight 3-pointer find nothing but net.

“You’re leaving the best shooter in the state open!” English yelled from the sideline.

That’s quite a compliment coming from the opposing bench, and English meant it.

“I’d put her up against anybody in the state, when she gets her feet set,” English said. “She can flat put it in the basket.”

The junior drilled four 3-pointers to help the Kittens overcome a somewhat sluggish start as Ashland beat West Carter, 68-37, on Monday night at Anderson Gym.

Fifty minutes before the junior varsity game tipped off, English and his team watched from the stands as Gambill nailed three after three.

“I swear I watched her make 40 of them in two minutes,” English said.

Gambill was 4-for-4 in the contest and tallied a game-high 16 points.

The Lady Comets held an 11-7 advantage at the 3:50 mark of the first quarter, and that’s when Ashland coach Bill Bradley went to his deep bench.

Bradley brought in four reserves, and he credited them, along with Gambill, with keying a 31-5 run to end the half.

“I thought our subs really got us going,” Bradley said. “Then, once we put our starters back in, it picked up like crazy. It was over.”

Ashland (21-5) settled into its full-court press and held West Carter without a field goal for nearly eight minutes bridging the first and second periods. The Kittens forced 17 turnovers in the first half, with four of them counting as steals for starting freshman Alexis Robinson.

After hitting five of its first seven field goal attempts, West Carter made two of its next 30. It finished 14-of-45.

Allie Slone, Haley Sue Foutch, Madison Jones and Alicia Gunter deserved much of the credit for the Kittens.

“Those four subs got us going,” Bradley said. “I don’t think we miss a beat now when we sub.”

A steal and a bucket by Foutch ended the first quarter with Ashland up 17-11.

Gambill made three treys in the first quarter, and she made another with 1:56 to go in the second. Gunter fired away and nailed a three-ball directly after, giving the Kittens a 34-14 lead.

“Before the game, I noticed I was getting my rhythm,” said the typically quiet Gambill.

“In the last four games, she’s gotten better and better,” Bradley said. “When I hear her calling for the ball, that’s when I know she’s got her hand.”

By the fourth quarter, Bradley was able to sit all of his starters. Unbeaten in the 16th Region, the Kittens host Rowan County at 6 p.m. today in a Senior Night game.

“I hope we just play our hearts out and get a win for our seniors,” Gambill said.

West Carter (7-16) got 10 points from Megan Centers, and eight from Stacey Easterling, both of whom came off the bench. Easterling missed some time at the beginning of the season after injuring her head against Ashland in the first meeting. The Kittens won that one, 89-51.

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