addout

16th Region will also be live streamed at https://www.mytowntv.com/16th-region-tournament.html Both boys and girls.

Knox Central is my pick, but they I'll have to go with Knox Central in the potential second match up of the season. I have doubts in North Laurel winning two in a row against a very good and athletic Knox Central team.

Scoring by quarters: Ashland 21 14 26 21 = 82 Boyd Co. 13 11 18 21 = 63

Final

I don't know what to tell you except that Ashland is not the same team with Porter and Villers both out of the lineup. I can also tell you that with Porter anywhere near 100% he will find a way to get the ball to who ever can score. Whether he is scoring or not, Porter adds a completely different dynamic to Ashland's offense and their opponent's defense. Ashland also has three players who can come off the bench and score 20+ points against a good team. With that all being said, all I have remaining to say is, "yes Boyd County could win but I don't think it will happen".

Ashland is not yet at full strength with Porter back from injury today and Villers not playing. Ashland did have an easy game with the starters only logging 68 minutes of a possible 160 minutes of playing time.

Ashland point guard Colin Porter returned tonight after being out for several games due to an injuried shoulder. Playing for 19 minutes, Porter scored 16 points while dishing out 14 assists and only turning the ball over 1 time. I'm sue the Tomcats are very happy to get him back.

Final from Ashland Blazer.

Scoring by quarters: OT Ashland 19 16 14 19 15 = 83 Bracken Co 11 20 9 28 8 = 76

Scoring by quarters: Ashland 28 25 13 9 = 75 West Carter 12 11 8 6 = 37

Ashland wins with a running clock in Heritage game at Ashland's Alumni Gym.

Good win for the Lions, a real confidence booster.

Scoring by quarters: Ashland 13 15 26 16 =70 George Washington 8 17 12 22 =59

Colin Porter left the game with Ashland up 31-27 and 5:56 remaining in the 3rd quarter after taking a hard hit to his right shoulder. The shoulder that caused him to miss three games earlier in the season. He came back to the bench later with an iced shoulder but did not re-enter the game. Ashland proceeded to out score George Washington 23-10 in the remainder of the third quarter.

Final from Ashland.

Rylee is a very good player. No doubt about it. But Ashland played excellent defense on him, he had 8 eight total baskets. Four were in the flow of the offense and four were individual effort, hustle and athletic ability. He had 3 turnovers and was not doubled teamed. Ashland did an excellent job of keeping the Covington Catholic offense from flowing through Rylee.

The answer to all your questions is yes. The game was already decided with 56 seconds remaining in the game, Ashland was leading 66-50 with Covington Catholic still pressing Ashland full court and fouling to get the ball back. You have to give them credit, Covington Catholic never quit but Ashland is a 77% free throw shooting team and the players who usually handle the ball against the press are better than that. Ipsaro scored 8 of his 21 points in the last 67 seconds of the game and that may tell you how well Ashland handled him. His last basket was a dunk with a half second remaining in the game.

Strength of schedule may be a factor. Or maybe players out sick.

Agreed, a nice win for Ashland but not unexpected. Covington Catholic came into tonights game leading the state in shooting percentage at 56.4% while averaging 76.4 points per game. Tonight Ashland held Covington Catholic to 60 points and 46.2% shooting. That's 16 points and 10% below Covington Catholic's average. Also, Covington Catholic came into tonight's game allowing only 53.9 points per game but gave up 71 points to Ashland. Ashland came into tonights game ranked 10th in the state in scoring at 77.8 points per game. Covington Catholic held Ashland 7 points below their offensive average but that was 14 points more than Covington Catholic's defensive average. Both teams played seven players but only four scored for Covington Catholic while all seven scored for Ashland. Both teams defense caused problems for their opponent's offense but Ashland was the more difficult team to defend. To be honest as good as Ashland's defense was, I think that Covington Catholic's was better. Ashland's offense had more players to defend and Porter did such a goo job of handling the pressure and putting the ball in the hand of the hot player. Result an Ashland win.

Ashland is a handful anywhere when they're healthy.

Final from Ashland.

Ashland wins 71-60.

With 3:13 remaining in the game, Ashland leads 58-44.

Third quarter began with a 11 point Covington run.

Ashland leads 48-38 after three quarters.