[Stardust]

MOREHEAD — Driven by its point guard, Ashland hit its turning point.

The freshman’s moment was meant, and managed, to be put on hold. And, as she said, she probably wasn’t quite ready to handle it anyway — Alexis Robinson admitted to being unassertive, and even unprepared, at times as an eighth-grader.

“I didn’t come out ready to play all the time,” Robinson thought back. “I was really timid and didn’t really play my game.”

It was all part of the plan, well, aside from the hardware Robinson received on Saturday night. The Most Valuable Player award was just an added bonus as Robinson and the Kittens knocked off 16th Region defending champions Boyd County, 55-44, at Johnson Arena.

Robinson was a unanimous selection by the media — in the Kittens’ three tournament wins over Raceland, Rowan County and Boyd County, Robinson’s performances consisted of an 11-point, five-assist effort, an 18-point, nine-rebound outing and then 15 points, two steals and two assists on Saturday.

“She’s played the same way all season,” said Kittens coach Bill Bradley. “She never gets flustered.”

Last March, she mostly watched from the bench — the quiet eighth-grader barely cracked double figures in minutes — as her team’s dreams were crushed by an adversary the Kittens had previously triumphed over four times during the regular season.

On Saturday, Robinson led her team in minutes (30). Some would say she’s broken out of her shell. Shattered it, maybe.

“Before she was real quiet, but we’re all used to each other,” said senior Mykal Farris. “We act like idiots around each other.”

Robinson has recognized a personal change, attributing it to a new level of comfortability.

“I got closer to the players and they all seem to like me,” Robinson said. “And coach Bradley was really counting on me.”

When announced that she was the MVP, a befuddled Robinson had an almost apathetic reaction. However, she finally cracked a smile after seeing her teammates do the same.

“I usually don’t show too much emotion,” Robinson said. “I thought our seniors, Mykal or Julia (Heaberlin), would’ve got it.”

Ashland graduated no one after last season’s bitter conclusion, so that’s one reason Farris said the Kittens were much improved.

Another? Alexis Robinson, of course.

“Alexis has helped so much,” Farris said. “Her athleticism is unbelievable. She works hard; she’s one that stays after practice to work on things.”

Robinson’s growth chart as a player is progressing upward as planned.

“I talked to her folks and her about not bringing her up too soon (last season),” Bradley said. “We brought her up at her own pace. It’s paid off because this year she’s played like gangbusters.”

Robinson is the second consecutive freshman to receive MVP honors. Boyd County’s Taylor Wheeler was named MVP last year.
http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...-by-Alexis