16th Region...Almost

BY Denver Brown, Managing Editor

March 14, 2007 March 15, 2007 04:00 pm

— MOREHEAD - By the skin of their Tomcats, Ashland escaped a motivated East Carter club and gained the 16th region Tournament’s championship game with a 56-51 win in the event’s semifinal round on Saturday.
The Raiders trailed by as many as 16 before rallying to eventually taking a one-point lead in the last period. Ashland nailed six free throws in the final minute of play to hold off the Raiders’ upset-minded rally.
“I’m just so proud of these guys and how they battled,” East Carter boys basketball boss Brandon Baker said after the emotional defeat. “These kids never quit, they never hung their heads – they just kept battling and playing hard. And I’m very proud of them for that and what they’ve accomplished this season.”
Ashland lost a lopsided final to Elliott County on Monday. The Lions defeated East in the title-game of the 62nd District Tournament. Baker’s Raiders did score a victory over the Rupp Arena-bound bunch from Sandy Hook earlier in the regular season.
The Tomcats shot their way to a 25-9 lead over the guys from Grayson before the locals got hot. Scorching the nets, the Raiders raced past Ashland on a 32-14 run that saw East edge in front, 41-40, midway through the final frame.
An Ashland three-point bucket answered the Raiders’ charge and gave the lead back to the Tomcats – for good.
“I thought we were just one made-basket away,” the Raider bench boss said. “Once we got the lead, if we’d have made one more, we’d have been in control.
“We did have our chances with some good looks, but they just didn’t go in,” Baker said. “I thought we had some real good looks, especially when Ashland was up 49-46, we had some open looks from outside to tie -- but the ball just went in and out.”
In spite of the roller-coaster regular season, the Raider coach said he was always confident of what his club could accomplish.
“I always knew we were capable but we had just been so up and down there was some uncertaintly heading into the postseason,” he said. “I knew we’d compete and once we got into the tournaments, we made shots and played stronger -- another made shot and I’m certain we’d have played for the region championship.”

Baker’s club gained the final four round with an upset of Rowan County in the first round. Fueled by Van Allen Burge’s 20-point effort, the Raiders scored a 16th Region Tournament victory for the firs time in 12 years.
Suiting up for the final time as a Raider were seniors Burge, Evan Vincent, Jacob Jordan, Ryan Knipp and Tommy Dearfield.

Burge and junior Drew Johnson were named to the 2007 16th region All-Tournament team.

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