By MATT FULTZ — For The Independent
MOREHEAD — The Ashland Tomcats used a second-half goal by Chris Buckley to defeat Russell 1-0 and capture the 11th Region boys’ championship Thursday night at Rowan County High School.
Buckley’s game-winning goal came with just a little over four minutes remaining. Aaron Wheeler’s pass put the ball just outside the box and Buckley did the rest, outmaneuvering two Russell defenders before finding the back of the net.
“We were close to the sideline and I just told Aaron just to put it in the box,” said Ashland coach Ken Wheeler. “He played a nice ball in there about the 18, and I knew Buck would finish; he is big and strong.”
“I couldn’t believe it went in actually,” said Buckley, who was named tournament Most Valuable Player. “It feels great.”
The two teams played three close matches prior to meeting again in the region finals and Wheeler knew that the championship would be no different.
“Russell is always good. They are our big rival,” he said. “Russell played hard. And I don’t care who has the better record during the year, it’s going to be a war.”
Neither team was able to do much offensively in the first half, with each team just managing to get off a few shots.
However, Russell did manage to get one good opportunity late in the half, but Ian Soucy’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
Will Skaggs put the pressure on the Russell defense early in the second half, with a pair of shots on goal. Skaggs’ first shot was a perfectly executed bicycle kick and the second was a low powerful line drive.
Russell was never able to get a quality shot on goal,in the second half, thanks to stellar defense by the Tomcats. The defense was led by Dylan Kramer, Nick Tomlin, Avery Henry, Tyler Woford and goalkeeper Kyle Hacker.
Hacker turned in his second shutout of the tournament to earn all tournament team honors.
Although the Red Devils came away as the runner-up, their coach Joe Grizzle was proud of his team.
“They have had a heck of a season,” said Grizzle. “For them to make it here is great. From the beginning of the season, they have grown so much and improved so much. I know they are down right now, but they are going to reflect back on the season and realize that they had a heck of the season.”
The Tomcats will have to play the rest of the season without senior captain Wes Griffith, who had to undergo emergency surgery on Wednesday.
Ashland plays Montgomery County at home in the sub-sectional next week.
All-Tournament team
Menifee County: Logan Rudder, David Meeks. Rowan County: Brent Ison, Jordan Bentley. Russell: T.J. Sloan, William Fullen, Collin McKenzie. Ashland: Tyler Woford, Kyle Hacker, Will Skaggs, Chris Buckley (MVP).
