Ashland  Tomcats ? (23-7)
vs. 
Calloway  County  Lakers ⚓️ (31-3)

State Rankings: Ashland (KYHS Sports Zone #13) | Calloway County (Media Poll #7)

?Wednesday, March 26th at Rupp Arena 

⏰️ 8:30pm

? | Ashland: When it comes to navigating the road to Rupp, the Tomcats have been there, done that. They've worn a path down I-64 from Ashland to Lexington as 16th Region representatives seven years running, a region record.

Players to watch 
?  Zander Carter (24 ppg/3000+ career points/58% FGs) | Caleb Clarke (11.6 ppg/58% FGs) | Drew Smith (11.1 ppg/66 3s) | Tyson Lalonde (9.3 ppg) | Preston Hoskins (8.7 ppg/71 3s)

Calloway County: The Lakers last played on the state's most hallowed hardwood in 2015. From 2016 through last season, they failed to win a single 1st Region tournament game. They ran the postseason table this year, taking down highly regarded Marshall County for district and region championships. 

Players to watch 
⚓️  Jonah Butler (22.3 ppg/10 rpg/56% FGs/83% FTs) | Eli Finley (22.1 ppg/53% FGs) | Conner Lockhart (11.1 ppg) | Luke Armstrong (8 ppg/5.4 rpg)

Unlike the seasoned Tomcats, the current Calloway County roster has never been in water this deep. They're the Lakers, so you'd like to think they're strong swimmers. Ashland's renowned ball movement will attempt to use every inch of the larger court and stretch Calloway beyond its limits.

Bump.

 

Ashland's depth will likely be the deciding factor here. 

Calloway has 2 high-end talents along with Lockhart, but I'd say that's about it in regards to depth for them.

They have two common opponents in Rowan Co. and Harlan Co.  Calloway defeat Rowan by 26 in the State 2A tournament and Ashland ended the Vikings season with a 21-point loss in the 16th region tournament. Calloway beat Harlan Co. by 5 and Ashland defeated Harlan Co. by 15.

Ashland leads the poll 14-13. Contest entrants chose the Tomcats 19-3. ?* 

* See our picks in St. X vs. J'town. Your milage may vary.

Starting Line-ups

⚓️ | Lockhart, Butler, Armstrong, Finley, Lockhart

? | Carter, Clarke, Lalonde, Smith, Hoskins

32 minutes ago, Runcible Owl said:

Ashland leads the poll 14-13. Contest entrants chose the Tomcats 19-3. ?* 

* See our picks in St. X vs. J'town. Your milage may vary.

We're knotted at 15 apiece.

The only other first round game that comes close was BG/Adair.

9-5 Ashland.

14-5 Ashland 

3:30 1Q

Drew Smith is on fire for the Tomcats. He's got 10 already on 4/4 shooting, including a pair of 3s.

21-12 Ashland 

:43 1Q

Zander Carter just got himself on the board moments ago, but the Tomcats are firing on all cylinders regardless. 

Cats up 14-5 with 3:33 to play in the first quarter. A great start for the Tomcats it might be helpful that this is their 6 straight trip to Rupp.

Ashland leads 23-14 after the first quarter. A great start for the Tomcats!