ASHLAND BLAZER

ASHLAND BLAZER

* Bill BradleyCoach:

* 2013 ( (lost to Montgomery County 60-49 in first round).Last trip to State:

* The Kittens are most comfortable when they player half court and apply a sticky man-to-man defense. Ashland doesn’t go very deep but the Kittens are fit, considering they played three games in three nights in the 16th Region Tournament at Morehead State University. The Kittens value the basketball, averaging fewing than nine turnovers this season. In the 16th Regional final — a 45-41 win over East Carter, they committed just two turnovers. Ashland’s ball security should be a key factor against Henderson County’s press.What to look for:

* The Kittens’ Alexis Robinson, a 5-10 junior guard, is one of the state top players and she has committed to play at the University of Colorado. The three-time 16th Region most valuable player, she’s hitting more than 52 percent of her shots.Key player:

* “We really take care of the basketball. We only had two turnovers against East Carter (in the regional final).Coach-speak:

Starters

32-Alexis Robinson

5-11, Jr., 16.1 ppg, 6 rpg

3-Shelby Gransbery

5-11, Jr., 8.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg

23-Mykasa Robinson

5-6, 8th, 5 ppg, 3 rpg

5-Alex Young

5-10, Sr., 9 ppg, 2 rpg

00-Haley-Sue Foutch

5-11, Jr., 12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg

Key reserves

11-Josie Roberts

5-6, Sr., 5 ppg 3 rpg

13-Chelsea Woodson

5-4, Jr., 4 ppg, 1.2 rpg

HENDERSON COUNTY

HENDERSON COUNTY

* Jeff Haile.Coach:

* 2013 (lost to Anderson County 65-54 in first round).Last trip to State:

* Henderson County will have one of the more athletic teams in the tournament. Thus, they will press and run up and down the floor. The Lady Colonels, who opened last year’s tournament against Anderson County, received a favorable draw, drawing opposite favorites Elizabethtown and Anderson. “You can’t take anyone lightly,” Haile said.What to look for:

* The Lady Colonels feature four players, who average double figures, led by DeAsia Outlaw on the inside and Kacie Wallace on the outside. Both are hitting more than 50 percent of their shots. Outlaw scored 20 points in the first half of a 64-48 loss to Butler, and 26 points against University Heights in the regional final. Henderson County has no seniors.Key player:

* Tucked away in Western Kentucky, the Lady Colonels could be the sleeper team in the tournament. “To be honest, teams from Western Kentucky haven’t fared as well (lately),” said Haile, who will bring his 11th team to the tournament in 28 years. “We hope to change that.”Coach-speak:

Starters

33-DeAsia Outlaw

6-0, Jr., 12.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg

45-Alisha Owens

5-10, Fr., 11.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg

15-Maci Brown

5-6, Jr., 10.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg

14-Kacie Wallace

5-4, Jr., 12.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg

3-Samantha Carter

5-4, So., 3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Top reserves

43-Mikayla Gilbert

5-9, So., 5.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg

14-Kacie Wallace

5-4, Jr., 12.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg

10-Macallister Francis

5-6, Jr., 5 ppg 1.8 rpg

TEAM COMPARISON