Cougars can't catch Kittens
Jan. 31—ASHLAND — Morgan County had seven points at the end of the first quarter. The turnover column on the stat sheet had double that amount.
Ashland's full-court defense has had that effect on its opponents this season. A rise in numbers that they don't want to see.
The Kittens' tempo stayed at a steady pace as they raced past the Cougars for a 77-42 win at Anderson Gym on Wednesday night.
"It's what we've talked about a lot," Ashland coach Stacy Davis said. "In the past, we have had some games where we get up, but we would let people back in the ball game and have to battle back again. It's what we have focused on. When we get up, let's put the pedal to the metal. Take care of business and do it from the start and finish it. They are getting better at that."
Ashland put the game out of reach early in the third quarter. A 17-3 run stretched an already considerable advantage to 61-17 to open the second half. The Kittens recorded 15 straight tallies to close out the scoring stretch. Ella Sellars splashed a triple during the spurt and Kenleigh Woods added a pair.
"I've seen Ashland play a couple of times," Morgan County coach Jordan Brangers said, "so I was familiar with how good they were. But once you see them in person, it's a lot different. They are a really good basketball team. They showed that tonight."
Davis went to her bench often over the final two quarters after a running clock commenced on the scoreboard.
Woods had 22 points for the Kittens. Sellars had 15 points and Jaidyn Gulley posted 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ashland lead the glass attack with 44 boards to the Cougars' 27.
"It's her looking to score the basketball," Davis said of Gulley. "Her offensive confidence has grown tremendously in the last couple of games. We hope that continues to carry on for her. She's a beast."
Gabby Karle had 10 points and Brookelyn Duckwyler added eight.
Morgan County (7-11) guard Autumn Ross missed the game due to injury. Emma Clinger netted 14 points to lead the Cougars. McKenna Smith supplied 11 points and eight rebounds.
Ashland (15-4) sprinted out to an 8-2 lead after triples from Karle and Gulley. The Kittens closed out the quarter on a 16-5 run. Gulley had seven quick points in the frame. Sellars added six in the first stanza.
The margin increased to 31-11 midway through the second quarter. Ashland scored 13 of the last 16 points before halftime. Woods scored eight of the final 11 points for the Kittens.
Morgan County ends the regular season slate with several tough games, including Boyd County and Pikeville. Brangers believes playing stellar competition will only make his team better. The Cougars are 4-1 in 62nd District seeding games and can clinch the top spot with a win over Elliott County on Feb. 7.
"The back end of our schedule is extremely tough," Brangers said. "We will take our bumps and our bruises and try to prepare for the postseason. We are missing Autumn Ross and two other players who give us good minutes. We have to figure it out."
Ashland continues its busy week with four games in six days. The Kittens play at Spring Valley tonight and travel to Lexington Christian to play Connor on Saturday.
"It's our hard week; four games after picking this makeup game with Morgan County on Wednesday," Davis said. "We go to Spring Valley. They are a scrappy team and they are aggressive. They like to get the ball up and down the floor like us. We talk all the time about taking care of business. We have two games down and then we move on to our third and then fourth. It's the mentality that we have. We want to be focused game in and game out."
MORGAN CO. 7 7 8 20 — 42
ASHLAND 24 20 19 12 — 77
Morgan County (42)—Adkins 6, Clinger 14, Hampton 2, Smith 11, Litteral 8, Dye 1. 3-pt FGs: 1 (Adkins) FT: 9-21. Fouls: 7
Ashland (77)—Woods 22, Karle 10, Gulley 13, Sellars 15, Troxler, Duckwyler 8, Thomas 3, Delaney 3, Rogers, Scites 3, Smith, Wolfe. 3-pt FGs: 9 (Woods 4, Karle 2, Gulley, Sellars, Scites) FT: 2-4. Fouls: 13.
(606) 326-2671
