March 14, 2007 — 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.
East Carter
Related Photos
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Photo by Devner Brown
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Photo by Devner Brown
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Photo by Devner Brown
16th Region...Almost
Raiders rip Rowan, nearly topple Tomcats in semifinal battle
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East Carter takes to the tennis court
In last Thursday’s tennis match at the East Carter Middle School Courts, versus Greenup County, the boys lost 6 - 3 and now have a season record of 0 - 1. The girls won 6-3 and now have a season record of 1 - 0.
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East archery goes to state
East Carter Middle School finished second in the Middle School Division of the 12th Region Archery Tournament held March 12 at Boyd County Middle School.
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Raiders hire new football coach
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East Carter players named All-EKC
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Raiders close season
The East Carter Raiders ended their season in the first round of the 62nd District Tournament with a loss to cross-county rival West Carter.
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East Carter sends seniors off as district champs
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East girls are district champs but fall in region first round
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East exits in the district first round
It was the third meeting between East and West Carter last Tuesday night, but this time a berth in the 16th Regional Tournament was on the line. The third time wasn’t the charm for a depleted East squad as they fell to West 59-37 in the first round of the 62nd District Tournament.
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East girls fall on senior night, then knock over Ashland
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East Carter takes to the tennis court
