ASHLAND —
Ashland and Greenup County played a game of Feast and Famine on Thursday night.
Ashland’s Alexis Robinson and Sydney Cullop feasted for 20 first-quarter points, while Greenup County’s offense experienced a game-long famine.
Outcome? A 73-29 romp for the 14th-ranked Kittens at James A. Anderson Gym.
Robinson scored 13 of her game-high 20 points in the opening five minutes as Ashland moved out to a nine-point lead and never looked back.
“Alexis really got us going,” Cullop said of the sophomore point guard. “She was hitting shots and getting steals.”
Cullop made an early impact on both ends of the court as well. The senior forward scored off an Ashland steal, drilled a 3-pointer and also scored on a putback. The two players also combined for seven rebounds in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Greenup County never got untracked, shooting 19 percent from the field.
“I thought our defense was really good,” said Ashland coach Bill Bradley. “Greenup County likes to push the pace like we do and has two or three good scorers capable of getting 20-plus points. Unfortunately for them, they were missing shots early and couldn’t get going.”
Ashland (13-3) led by 20 points at halftime and extended the margin to 32 after three quarters.
Robinson started the game by burying a 3-pointer from the top of the key. It triggered a spree that saw her reel off 13 of the Kittens’ first 15 points.
Bradley couldn’t have enjoyed it more.
“Alexis is so good at getting other people the ball,” Bradley said. ‘“She has a tendency to wait and get everybody else involved. Tonight, she took that three right off. Then she was getting rebounds, steals and made some nice passes. She really came out strong.”
Robinson, who connected on her first six shots, finished 9-of-12 from the floor and also collected eight rebounds and three steals.
“All the credit goes to my teammates,” Robinson said. “They are the ones that got me the ball. We shared the ball very well. We have good team chemistry.”
Cullop played a major role with 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals. On a night when the Kittens shot an icy 3-for-26 from 3-point range, Cullop made two of her three attempts.
“This was probably Sydney’s best all-around game,” Bradley said. “She always plays good defense and rebounds. When she knows down 3s like that, it really opens things up.”
Cullop’s second 3-pointer came helped ignite a 16-0 run to start the second quarter.
Kittens post player Haley Sue Foutch warmed up in the second period with four baskets, set up by nice passes.
“That’s like our main thing we never have to worry about,” Cullop said. “We will pass up a good shot for a great shot.”
Foutch went on to post totals of 16 points and eight rebounds.
Ashland continues a busy stretch Saturday with a road game at Boyd County.
“It’s our sixth game in 10 days and it’s Boyd County, our rival,” Bradley said. “We know what’s coming from them.”
Greenup County (11-11) was led by Destiny Jones’ eight points. The Lady Musketeers shot 1-for-17 behind the 3-point line and 12-for-62 overall.
“We just couldn’t making anything,” coach Mark Cantrell said.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
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Kittens gobble up Greenup
Cullop, Robinson lead Ashland in 73-29 blowout
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