Ashland Blazer outlives Owensboro in stunning comeback Sweet 16 win
The Ashland Blazer Tomcats claimed a win for the ages in a 66-65 nail-biter against Owensboro during the first round of the KHSAA Boy’s Sweet Sixteen.
Judging before the last 17 seconds of the game, Owensboro looked like they were in position to close out the game on top. They got an early first quarter lead, and when Ashland Blazer came back, they still held on to it with various leads that stretched between 1-8 points. But the Red Devils could not close the door and seal the deal with a win.
“It just wasn’t our night tonight,” said Owensboro head coach Rod Drake. “You can’t take anything away from [Ashland Blazer]. They shot the ball extremely well, went to the boards and got second shots. We had a chance, but about a minute to go we gave them three shots down there, and you give or take three shots and they’re gonna capitalize on it.”
Owensboro Starts Hot
If you were watching the first quarter, you might’ve thought this game was going to go like the first game of the night session, which featured a Warren Central beatdown of Pulaski County.
Owensboro got an early lead on Ashland Blazer, jumping on to the Tomcats for a 12-2 advantage during the first few minutes of play. Ashland Blazer responded with a 5-0 run of their own to bring it to 14-9, yet Owensboro continued their push and ended the first quarter ahead 20-14.
Dog Fight
Two free throws and a jumper gave Ashland Blazer the tie at 20-20, and from then on, the rest of the game was an absolute dog fight. Both teams were physical, and they both capitalized on their opportunities to score.
The teams would score back and forth for the remainder of the half, which would end with the Red Devils leading the Tomcats 30-28.
Owensboro’s efforts were led by senior guard Kenyatta Carbon. He ended the first half with 12 points, four boards and two assists. He nearly doubled that production in the second half, totaling 22 points, six boards and six assists.
Third and Fourth Quarters
Coming out of halftime, Ashland Blazer claimed the lead for the first time all game. They would keep the lead until Carbon and company put his team ahead to end the third at 48-44.
The last eight minutes displayed true grit and fight. It was one of the most exciting quarters I’ve seen in high school basketball this season. Owensboro clung to a small lead and kept Ashland Blazer at arm’s length for most of the fourth, leading by seven at 61-54 with three minutes left.
This is when the trajectory of the game changed.
Tomcats senior Rheyce Deboard scored two back-to-back to bring the game within one possession at 61-58. Both teams hit a layup and free throws to make it 63-60 with less than two minutes to play.
Carbon added another two for the Red Devils, but that would be the last score of Owensboro’s season.
The Tomcats went on a 6-0 during the last minute of the game to punch their ticket to the Elite 8. Braxton Jennings had the Midas-Touch during the final seconds of the game. Zander Carter brought the game to 65-62 and Jennings shot 1-1 on the line, making it 65-63 with 39 seconds.
With what felt like the shot heard around the world, Jennings put it up when he was wide open on the perimeter and took the lead for the Tomcats at 66-65.
Although Owensboro had a few more chances to take over and win the game in the final seconds, their efforts fell short and Ashland Blazer claimed a victory.
“As a fan of the game of basketball, I feel like you got to literally see everything that you would want to see within 32 minutes of a high school basketball game,” said Ashland Blazer head coach Ryan Bonner. “It was just a phenomenal game, and that’s exactly, what you saw out there, why they call it March Madness.”
Bonner and his Ashland Blazer Tomcats will advance to the Elite Eight to face the No.1 ranked Warren Central Dragons Friday afternoon for a spot in the Final Four.
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