Owensboro’s run at another state title was cut short by a 3-point barrage by Ashland Blazer, who managed to get past a usually stout Red Devil defense to earn a 58-50 win.
Owensboro (23-8) held a 9-point lead with 2:57 to play in the third quarter, but the Tomcats (18-16) caught fire and hit four consecutive triples during a 16-4 run to go in front for good in Wednesday’s first-round game of the 2019 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 State Tournament.
Head coach Rod Drake said the Red Devils weren’t able to slow down Ashland Blazer once they got rolling.
“They started penetrating when we weren’t in front of our guy,” Drake said. “They got past us and it was the same thing every time, drive and kick. We just got lost out there today.”
For three quarters, neither team was able to score with much consistency. Trailing 11-10 after one quarter, Owensboro got back-to-back 3-pointers from Amari Wales and Aireon Phillips to open the second frame. They stayed on top for a 27-24 lead at the half, and they never trailed in the third.
The Tomcats hung around just enough, and their run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth proved too much to overcome for the Devils. Drake said Owensboro stepped up late, but they fell into too big of a hole.
“I thought on offense the ball stuck a little bit too much tonight,” he said. “We moved it and picked up our intensity late in the second half. That’s what we should have been doing all along. They got hot there midway through the third quarter and made it tough for us to come back.”
Ashland Blazer went 7-for-12 from 3-point range in the second half, finishing the game 9-for-17 from deep. At the other end, Owensboro only knocked down three shots from beyond the arc on nine attempts. The Tomcats finished the game shooting 48.8 percent from the field, compared to just 36.0 percent for the Devils.
Owensboro started the game with leading scorer Darrion Wimsatt on the bench, as he was still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in Saturday’s region championship. Wimsatt entered the game with 5:27 left in the second and played 15 minutes, finishing with 8 points — 6 of which came at the line.
In his absence, Isaac Humphrey and Wales stepped up to carry the team for much of the game. Humphrey led the team with 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, while Wales added 11 points.
“They’ve been steady all year long,” Drake said of the duo. “These two guys work hard and even when they’re not scoring, they play hard and do what they’re supposed to do. More importantly, they’re good kids. All those kids I have in the locker room are great kids.”
Humphrey, a sophomore, said enjoyed the chance to play at Rupp Arena was exciting.
“It’s a surreal experience,” he said. “I’ve watched Kentucky play their games here for a long time growing up. I’ve dreamed about playing on this floor. Getting a chance to do it as a high-school kid is unbelievable, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Scoring
Ashland 11-13-11-23–58
Owensboro 10-17-9-14–50
Ashland: Devaunte Robinson 16, Justin Bradley 14, Ethan Hudson 12, Justin Bradley 9, Cole Villers 4, Hunter Mays 3
Owensboro: Isaac Humphrey 12, Amari Wales 11, Darrion Wimsatt 8, Adante Greer 7, Aireon Phillips 6, Gavin Wimsatt 2, Imonte Owsley 2, Jaiden Greathouse 2
