PIKEVILLE – To say Johnson Central was clicking on all cylinders would be an understatement.
The Golden Eagles ran out to a 26-4 lead over Prestonsburg in the opening period and never looked back in cruising to an 80-49 victory in the opening round of the boys’ 15th Region Tournament played at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center Feb. 25.
Johnson Central, now 25-7, landed three players in double-figure scoring and had 14 different players score at least one basket. Gabe Ferrell finished with a game-high 22 points, including 18 of those from three-point range.
Cory VanHoose followed with 18 points and John King tossed in 10.
Graham Burchett led the Blackcats, who finished the season 16-16, with 14 points while Blake Slone chipped in nine.
The Golden Eagles advance to face Shelby Valley in the semifinals this coming Friday night.
At Pikeville
(15th Region Tournament)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PB (16-16)…..4 13 22 10 – 49
JC (25-7)…..26 22 17 15 – 80
Scoring;
Prestonsburg (49) – Adam Slone 2 3-4 7; Grant Justice 0 1-2 1; Graham Burchett 5(1) 1-2 14; Josh Hall 1 0-0 2; Blake Slone 3(1) 0-1 9; Kaleb Jarvis 2 0-1 4; Clayton Smith 2 3-4 7; Will Gullett 1 0-0 2; and Ryan Rose 0(1) 0-0 3. Totals: 16(3) 8-16 49.
Johnson Central (80) – Isaiah May 1(1) 2-2 7; Jacob Rice 0(1) 0-0 3; Cory VanHoose 7 4-6 18; Gabe Ferrell 2(6) 0-0 22; John King 4 2-2 10; Brett Caudill 1 0-0 2; Josh Slone 1 0-0 2; Conner Lemaster 1 0-0 2; Bryson Hackney 1 0-0 2; Braxton Bentley 1 2-2 4; Zach Russell 1 0-0 2; Mason Fairchild 1 0-0 2; Toby Spriggs 1 0-0 2; and Grant Bingham 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23(8) 10-12 80.
(Photo courtesy of Todd Conley)