Beacon Hoops: March 7, 2023
James Collier
The Ashland Beacon
BOYS 16th REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
ASHLAND 77 MORGAN COUNTY 54
Ashland withstood Morgan County’s best shot in the first eight minutes of the opening game in the Boys 16th Region Tournament. The Cougars led the Tomcats, 21-18 after one but the four-time defending champs left no doubt who the defending champ is with a 26-12 second quarter to cruise to a 77-54 win.
Ashland forced 17 Morgan County turnovers and converted those into 19 points. Ashland also claimed 11 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second chance points in the win.
Zander Carter led the Tomcats with a game-high 30 points—22 coming in the first half—while splashing home four triples. Rheyce Deboard added 17. Tristin Davis had 11 points and eight boards.
RUSSELL 71 FLEMING COUNTY 60
Fleming County fired the first shot at Russell. Russell delivered the final blow to avenge a regular season loss to the Panthers for a 71-60 opening round win.
Fleming County grabbed a four-point edge to open the contest only to watch Russell respond for a six-point lead after one capped off by Damon Charles triple to end the quarter for a 20-14 lead. Fleming County countered with a 21-15 second quarter to even the contest at 35-35 at halftime but Caleb Rimmer’s jumper with 3:52 to play in the third put Russell ahead for good.
Rimmer led the Devils with 25 points while going 12 of 15 from the field. Charles added 13 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Carson Blum netted 11 points. Elijah Neel kicked in 10 points and five dimes.
BOYD COUNTY 60 EAST CARTER 51 OVERTIME
Boyd County simply could not shake East Carter in the Lions opening round contest. After grabbing a 13-point lead before halftime, Boyd County found itself starring defeat in the eye after East Carter erased the deficit with a free throw for the lead with 5.9 seconds to play in regulation out of a Boyd County timeout.
Evan Goodman’s second toss did not fall and the Lions secured their most important rebound of the night to push the contest into overtime. However, once the ball went in the air in the extra period, the Lions took full control behind a pair of 3s to hold off East Carter, 60-51.
Jacob Spurlock led the Lions with 19 points while going 5 of 8 from downtown. Cole Hicks had 17. Jason Ellis added seven points and grabbed a team-high 16 rebounds.