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03-02-2012, 10:20 AM
MOREHEAD — Unlike many of her young teammates, Ashland senior Julia Heaberlin experienced three consecutive 16th Region Tournament losses to Rowan County in the semifinals or championship game from 2008-10.
No way could she let it happen again.
Heaberlin grabbed 14 rebounds and Ashland pulled away in the second half for a 53-40 semifinal victory Thurdsay night at Johnson Arena.
The 5-foot-11 Heaberlin hadn’t forgotten some of the past heartbreaks against Rowan County at Morehead State University.
“I still remember Laisha (Ward), how big of a mess she was, laying down on the floor and crying,” Heaberlin said of the Kittens’ 54-52 loss in the 2008 title game. “Oh yeah, I definitely wanted this one.”
The Kittens, now 21-0 against region opponents this season, didn’t play one of their better games but still marched into Saturday’s 7 p.m. finals.
Defending champion Boyd County gained the other spot by beating Lewis County 52-30 to set up a rematch of last year’s title game.
Ashland led wire to wire after Mykal Farris provided all the scoring in a 9-0 start that featured her two rainbow 3-pointers and five Rowan County turnovers. Even so, the Kittens still had plenty of work to do before this one was finished.
Rowan County twice closed to within one point in the second quarter and tried to put together another charge early in the fourth quarter before being turned away.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Ashland coach Bill Bradley said. “Rowan County’s had a really good season and you could tell they didn’t want it to end. I’m proud of the way our girls pulled together and got a big win.”
Leading by four at the half, the Kittens outscored Rowan County 16-6 in the third quarter to build a cushion. Kaylyn Gambill and Madison Jones each hit a 3-pointer to help provide some breathing room.
Rowan County responded with a surge to start the fourth quarter. Senior Kathryn Duff hit a 3-pointer and then scored inside to make it 40-31. Duff tried to get the Lady Vikings closer, but she fouled out on a charging call while making a driving shot and colliding with Ashland’s Allie Slone.
Rowan County coach Scott Tackett disagreed with the official’s judgment.
“I thought the game swung on the charge call on Duff,” Tackett said. “I whole-heartedly thought he missed the call. That doesn’t mean we would have won the game. I’m not saying that, but it was huge.”
Bradley agreed on one point.
“It was probably the biggest call of the game,” he said. “Allie has made big defensive plays for us all year. I thought it was a good call. I thought she was in proper position.”
Duff, who scored 13 points, went to the bench with 5:47 remaining. Rowan County pulled to within 42-35 on back-to-back baskets from senior standout Taylor Lewis midway through the fourth quarter, but Ashland put the game away behind the poised play of its freshman point guard.
Alexis Robinson handled the ball well and scored eight points down the stretch, including six free throws without a miss. She finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots and a couple of assists.
“Alexis took over the game in the second half,” Bradley said. “She was kind of zoned out in the first half. I don’t know if it was the surroundings, or she may have been a little nervous. She calmed down and did her thing.”
Gambill and Sydney Cullop each scored eight points for the Kittens, who won their 28th game against six losses.
Ashland shot only 34 percent from the field, but held Rowan County to 30 percent. Heaberlin was happy to do her part.
“This game, coach told me to play D, box out and don’t worry about anything else,” she said. “Our team defense was very good.”
Lewis had 17 points, four steals and four rebounds for Rowan County (25-7).
“It was a battle of the best two point guards in the region,” Tackett said. “Ashland’s a really good team that deserves to go forward. I’m really proud of our girls. I can honestly say this bunch got a little better every day. They came as close to maximizing their potential as a team can.”
http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...bdue-Rowan
No way could she let it happen again.
Heaberlin grabbed 14 rebounds and Ashland pulled away in the second half for a 53-40 semifinal victory Thurdsay night at Johnson Arena.
The 5-foot-11 Heaberlin hadn’t forgotten some of the past heartbreaks against Rowan County at Morehead State University.
“I still remember Laisha (Ward), how big of a mess she was, laying down on the floor and crying,” Heaberlin said of the Kittens’ 54-52 loss in the 2008 title game. “Oh yeah, I definitely wanted this one.”
The Kittens, now 21-0 against region opponents this season, didn’t play one of their better games but still marched into Saturday’s 7 p.m. finals.
Defending champion Boyd County gained the other spot by beating Lewis County 52-30 to set up a rematch of last year’s title game.
Ashland led wire to wire after Mykal Farris provided all the scoring in a 9-0 start that featured her two rainbow 3-pointers and five Rowan County turnovers. Even so, the Kittens still had plenty of work to do before this one was finished.
Rowan County twice closed to within one point in the second quarter and tried to put together another charge early in the fourth quarter before being turned away.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Ashland coach Bill Bradley said. “Rowan County’s had a really good season and you could tell they didn’t want it to end. I’m proud of the way our girls pulled together and got a big win.”
Leading by four at the half, the Kittens outscored Rowan County 16-6 in the third quarter to build a cushion. Kaylyn Gambill and Madison Jones each hit a 3-pointer to help provide some breathing room.
Rowan County responded with a surge to start the fourth quarter. Senior Kathryn Duff hit a 3-pointer and then scored inside to make it 40-31. Duff tried to get the Lady Vikings closer, but she fouled out on a charging call while making a driving shot and colliding with Ashland’s Allie Slone.
Rowan County coach Scott Tackett disagreed with the official’s judgment.
“I thought the game swung on the charge call on Duff,” Tackett said. “I whole-heartedly thought he missed the call. That doesn’t mean we would have won the game. I’m not saying that, but it was huge.”
Bradley agreed on one point.
“It was probably the biggest call of the game,” he said. “Allie has made big defensive plays for us all year. I thought it was a good call. I thought she was in proper position.”
Duff, who scored 13 points, went to the bench with 5:47 remaining. Rowan County pulled to within 42-35 on back-to-back baskets from senior standout Taylor Lewis midway through the fourth quarter, but Ashland put the game away behind the poised play of its freshman point guard.
Alexis Robinson handled the ball well and scored eight points down the stretch, including six free throws without a miss. She finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, two blocked shots and a couple of assists.
“Alexis took over the game in the second half,” Bradley said. “She was kind of zoned out in the first half. I don’t know if it was the surroundings, or she may have been a little nervous. She calmed down and did her thing.”
Gambill and Sydney Cullop each scored eight points for the Kittens, who won their 28th game against six losses.
Ashland shot only 34 percent from the field, but held Rowan County to 30 percent. Heaberlin was happy to do her part.
“This game, coach told me to play D, box out and don’t worry about anything else,” she said. “Our team defense was very good.”
Lewis had 17 points, four steals and four rebounds for Rowan County (25-7).
“It was a battle of the best two point guards in the region,” Tackett said. “Ashland’s a really good team that deserves to go forward. I’m really proud of our girls. I can honestly say this bunch got a little better every day. They came as close to maximizing their potential as a team can.”
http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...bdue-Rowan
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