Balanced Jaguars crush Ashbrook, set up first-place battle with Huss

GASTONIA — Forestview is proud to crown itself the mid-conference tournament champions.

With three games in three days, the Jaguars treated this week as a tournament. And they feel like they prepared themselves well for the upcoming postseason by going 3-0, culminating with Friday’s 96-49 dismantling of Ashbrook.

Six Jaguars scored in double figures as Forestview scored what is believed to be a school record.

“Everybody played as a team tonight,” said Chris Johnson, who led the way with 16 points. “Everybody just stepped up off the bench and played hard.”

Starters Tyshem Sharpe (12 points) and Preston Holmes (10) joined Johnson in double figures. But Forestview also got solid production off the bench, with Calvin Johnson (14), DeJuan Means (12) and Domonique Adams (10) hitting double digits.

Nine different Forestview players scored in the first half and 10 for the game as the Jaguars’ bench outscored Ashbrook’s entire team 50-49. Drakko Allison put up eight points off the bench and Ryan Kendrick added six.

“I was blown away by the fact that the reserves came in and played with the intensity and fire than they did,” Forestview coach Dan Ghent said. “They were able to do more than hold their own.”

The game was never close. Forestview jumped out to 9-1 and 13-3 leads before stretching its margin to 27-12 by the end of the first quarter. The lead swelled to 50-23 by halftime, and the Jaguars opened the third with a 15-5 run.

“They shot the lights out and we struggled in everything we were supposed to be doing,” Ashbrook coach Chad Duncan said. “It’s very disappointing the way we played tonight compared to the way we played Wednesday” in a win against Kings Mountain.

Forestview (12-7, 9-1 Big South) remained in contention for the conference title, setting up a first-place showdown at league undefeated Hunter Huss on Tuesday. The Jaguars then close out the regular season Friday at home against Kings Mountain.

The biggest crowd pleaser came at the end of the game and didn’t even count. Calvin Johnson slammed in a missed shot but was called for an over-the-back foul. Still, everybody was talking about the thunderous dunk afterward.

Darius Vercher led three Ashbrook players in double figures with 12 points. Justin Byrd scored 11 and Zeek Bigger added 10 against his former school. Bigger, a key reserve during Forestview’s run to the state title game last season, fell hard to the floor midway through the fourth quarter and delayed the game momentarily. But he walked off on his own power and said afterward he was fine.

Ashbrook (7-13, 5-6 Big South) doesn’t play again until Friday at home against Hunter Huss.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.

Ash    12 11 12 14 — 49

For     27 23 24 22 — 96

ASHBROOK (49) — Darius Vercher 12, Zeek Bigger 10, Justin Byrd 11, Darius Davis 5, Stephen Dixon 4, Blake Payne 3, Tre Briscoe 2, Josh Byrd 2.

FORESTVIEW (96) — Chris Johnson 16, Calvin Johnson 14, DeJuan Means 12, Tyshem Sharpe 12, Domonique Adams 10, Preston Holmes 10, Drakko Allison 8, Ryan Kendrick 6, Jack Sumner 4, Catrell Boyd 4.